Cutting Tools
The broad category of “cutting tools” includes all of the consumable tooling involved in milling, drilling, turning and other lathe and machining center operations.
Drills, end mills, taps, reamers and inserts are all included here. Consumable tooling used on certain other types of machine tools is included here as well. Also found here are toolholders and closely related accessories such as angle heads. Supplier pages, FAQs related to cutting and cutting tools can be found here, as well as essential reading on the topic and all of the latest Modern Machine Shop cutting tools coverage.
Latest Cutting Tools Articles
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SwiftCarb Cutter Bodies Improve Performance, Repeatability
IMTS 2024: SwiftCarb showcases its 180-Degree Corner Rounding Series with multiple grades, coatings and radius sizes to boost productivity based on individual material cutting conditions.
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Kennametal Five-Flute End Mill Provides Extended Tool Life
IMTS 2024: Kennametal’s solid end mill is designed to perform in a range of applications.
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Marubeni Citizen-Cincom Accessories Provide Faster Cycle Times
IMTS 2024: Marubeni Citizen-Cincom is showcasing a range of machining accessories designed to work intuitively with Citizen machines.
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Tapmatic Showcases Deburring Tool for a Consistent Edge Break
IMTS 2024: Tapmatic Corp. exhibits the DeBurr-Z deburring tool for simplified programming and a consistent edge break.
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Walter Boring Bars Provide Fast, Precise Tool Changes
The Walter QuadFit cylindrical modular interface enables quick and easy replacement of exchangeable heads.
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Mikron Milling Tool Suppresses Machining Chatter
IMTS 2024: The CrazyMill Cool CF milling tool features chatter suppression during machining, especially on thin-walled parts, which enables smoother cutting.
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Quick-Change Tool Heads Reduce Setup on Swiss-Type Turning Centers
This new quick-change tooling system enables shops to get more production from their Swiss turning centers through reduced tool setup time and matches the performance of a solid tool.
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Monaghan Reaming System Provides Long Service Life
The Diatool Top Speed Ring modular reaming system features multiblade design with uneven spacing of cutting edges to create round and cylindrical bores.
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How to Mitigate Chatter to Boost Machining Rates
There are usually better solutions to chatter than just reducing the feed rate. Through vibration analysis, the chatter problem can be solved, enabling much higher metal removal rates, better quality and longer tool life.
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Toolpath Improves Chip Management for Swiss-Type Lathes
This simple change to a Swiss-type turning machine’s toolpath can dramatically improve its ability to manage chips.
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How to Accelerate Robotic Deburring & Automated Material Removal
Pairing automation with air-driven motors that push cutting tool speeds up to 65,000 RPM with no duty cycle can dramatically improve throughput and improve finishing.
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Selecting a Thread Mill That Matches Your Needs
Threading tools with the flexibility to thread a broad variety of holes provide the agility many shops need to stay competitive. They may be the only solution for many difficult materials.
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IMCO Carbide Tool Inc. End Mills Provide Faster Part Cycles
The M936 Pow-R-Feed series is designed to make various toolpath moves without slowing down, providing faster cycle times and more production.
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Twin Spindle Design Doubles Production of Small Parts
After experiencing process stalls in the finishing stage of production, Bryan Machine Service designed an air-powered twin spindle and indexable rotating base to effectively double its production of small parts.
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New Modular Tool Options for Small Spindle Milling
Tooling options have been limited for small spindle milling applications. Now modular, indexable systems are available that provide broad flexibility to get the right cutter for the job with less inventory and at lower cost.
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A More Efficient Way to Cut Near-Net Parts
Choosing the right milling insert is important: This insert from Iscar is designed for finishing near-net shaped parts quickly, while another makes high-feed machining more accessible with existing machining centers.
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High Feed Rates or Deep Cuts - Which is Faster?
Comparing high-feed milling to other kinds, it is clear that the high feed and metal removal rates deliver on promises, but sometimes slowing down the feed and increasing the depth of cut will still end up faster.
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How to Manage Cutting Tool Inventory in a Small Job Shop — The One-Person Shop #4
Working in short lead times means maintaining a large range of tools to be ready. What is the right way to stock and organize this investment?
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Increasing Productivity in Drilling Holes in Steel
A new three-fluted drill designed for high production can improve the speed of drilling holes in steel by 50% while improving roundness and accuracy.
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How to Choose the Best Drill Type for Your Next Job
Five questions to ask when deciding between solid carbide drills or replaceable insert.
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Video: 3D Printed Tool Illustrates the Impact of Additive Manufacturing on Machining
Is AM an aid to machining? A competitor? It’s both. The Cool Parts Show looks at a milling tool design made possible by 3D printing.
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Is Robotic Automation the Key to Drawing (and Keeping) New Employees?
Robotic automation is transforming a job that was perhaps a machine operator’s least-favorite work assignment into one that is not a heavy lift.
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Modulated CNC Turning: How a Reversal in the Tool Path Can Deliver Greater Cutting Speed
UNCC researchers introduce modulation into the tool path. Chip breaking was the goal, but higher metal removal rate is an intriguing secondary effect.
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5 Rules for Driving Deep-Hole Insert Drills
A cautious approach, modern thinking, offline presetting and attention to coolant and chips unlock the potential of the latest replaceable-tip drills for deep CNC hole-making applications.
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Video: Redesigned Milling Cutter Demonstrates Possibilities of Additive Manufacturing
Topology optimization, 3D printing and a material change for this milling cutter resulted in an 80 percent reduction in mass.
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Video: Chipbreakers Are Not All the Same—How to Break Chips Effectively
Different chipbreakers are engineered for different parameters. Machining footage shows the difference in effectiveness between chipbreakers used in the right and the wrong applications.
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Hi-Speed Corp. Now Represents YG-1 on U.S. West Coast
Hi-Speed’s decision comes after representing Widia-Hanita for more than 25 years.
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Video: Think Twice Before Reaching for That Ballnose
Another type of tool engages comparatively more of the work to facilitate larger stepovers for improved efficiency and surface finish in five-axis finishing operations.
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Contour-Following Stylus Speeds Dot-Peen Marking
Capability to mark surfaces at widely varying heights and difficult-to-reach areas makes pneumatic systems more competitive by reducing the need for special fixtures and other accessories.
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Data-Driven Manufacturing Enabled with Tool Lifecycle Management
This video presents a lively and easy-to-follow scenario of how information about cutting tool availability links design, planning and production. Although TDM's tool lifecycle management software is brought into focus at relevant spots in this video, the larger message that "tool data management will be the control room of digitally controlled production" is sound and compelling.
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Latest Cutting Tools News And Updates
Ceratizit Milling Tool Provides Reliable HRSA Machining
The MaxiMill – 211-DC indexable insert milling system features 3D-printed cooling channels.
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Schwanog Custom Form Tools Reduce Cycle Times
IMTS 2024: Schwanog offers form tool systems, producing individual tools in very small series. Batch sizes from 3 to 50 units can be produced at any time.
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Ingersoll Tooling Lineup Optimizes Cutting Performance
IMTS 2024: Ingersoll’s WinSFeed product range enables hi-speed and hi-feed machining in a diverse range of applications using advanced engineering and metal removal concepts.
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Sandvik Coromant Turning Inserts Optimize Performance
The GC1205 and GC1210 PVD insert grades are designed to make surface requirements for aerospace engine components easier to achieve.
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Horn Milling Tools Feature Double-Edged Carbide Insert
Horn is expanding its milling tool portfolio to incorporate types for PTO shafts.
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Ceratizit End Mill Designed for Titanium, Super Alloys
IMTS 2024: Ceratizit USA features end mill for titanium and super alloys, upcoming tool catalog and a cutting tools portfolio.
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Featured Posts
Shoulder Milling Cuts Racing Part's Cycle Time By Over 50%
Pairing a shoulder mill with a five-axis machine has cut costs and cycle times for one of TTI Machine’s parts, enabling it to support a niche racing community.
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Briquetting Manufacturer Tools Up for Faster Turnaround Times
To cut out laborious manual processes like hand-grinding, this briquette manufacturer revamped its machining and cutting tool arsenal for faster production.
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Custom PCD Tools Extend Shop’s Tool Life Upward of Ten Times
Adopting PCD tooling has extended FT Precision’s tool life from days to months — and the test drill is still going strong.
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High-Feed Machining Dominates Cutting Tool Event
At its New Product Rollout, Ingersoll showcased a number of options for high-feed machining, demonstrating the strategy’s growing footprint in the industry.
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The Impact of Cutting Teeth Spacing on Machining Stability
Many cutter designs are available, and variable teeth spacing (or variable pitch) cutters can be used to influence milling stability. Let’s discuss why teeth spacing affects stability.
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How to Troubleshoot Issues With Tool Life
Diagnosing when a tool is failing is important because it sets an expectation and a benchmark for improvements. Finding out why gives us a clue for how to fix it.
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FAQ: Cutting Tools
Why is through-tool coolant valuable, and why are shops are seeing greater need for it?
Getting coolant to the cutting edge is critical for any manufacturing application. It helps in cooling the cutting zone, provides very needed lubrication, and can assist in breaking a chip. Many times, external lines are used to splash coolant near the work zone. Long Chips can easily interfere with this delivery method, possibly knocking the lines out of the way. Additionally, when tools need to be changed or indexed coolant lines might be moved for better access to the tool. Then when the line is put back it is never the same as it previously was. Often times there is a give-and-take methodology used to cover areas being machined with this coolant, so all tools get some cooling, but none of them get ideal cooling. A coolant-through tool allows pinpoint accuracy with a specific direction of coolant pointed exactly at the cutting zone.
Through-tool coolant is available on cutters that couldn't offer it before. What has changed in the technology of tool manufacturing to make this possible?
There’s been a big change is the ability to drill small-diameter holes very deep and do this in a production atmosphere. Part of this comes from the drilling machines being able to reach the necessary speeds and holders that provide superior clamping and runout. The other part comes from tools designed specifically for this drilling application.
On a coolant-through tool, material could be added in areas that may need additional strength, allowing for the intersecting coolant ports to be drilled accordingly.
What aspect of tool engineering is responding to greater cutting speed?
Machines and tools seem to have a back-and-forth dance in terms of which is leading. Coatings continue to evolve, with more layers, and different material being used. This is something all tool manufactures are playing with on some level. The changes in coating technology is somewhat more limited, and not as many are playing in this arena. One process that comes to mind is “HiPIMS,” or high-power impulse magnetron sputtering. This process uses microsecond timing of extreme-power pulses. This allows the metal to ionize to nano size particles to be deposited on the tools. This process allows for greater adhesion and coating hardness, while maintaining great lubricity. Additionally, this process has greatly reduced compressive stresses. This reduction allows for smaller edge preps to be used, thus resulting in sharper tools.
Why is diamond used as an industrial cutting tool?
Developments in polycrystalline diamond (PCD) and cubic boron nitride (CBN) have allowed these materials to improve in ways that make them more versatile and cost-effective. Meanwhile, the machining speed and tool life of these tools continue to take machining processes to levels of performance where carbide cannot go.
Through long tool life and fast cutting parameters, the tools increase machine capacity by reducing the frequency of tool replacements and allowing machines to make parts at a greater rate. Meanwhile, the tooling increasingly figures into expert solutions tailored to more demanding applications in various industries.
Source: The New Rules of Cutting Tools - Rule #3: Diamond Shouldn't Be Rare
What are cutting tools made of?
Polycrystalline diamond (PCD), cubic boron nitride (CBN), ceramic, high-speed steel (HHS), cemented carbide or cermet.
Sources: What's Happening With Cutting Tools
Cutting Tools Supplier Categories
- Deburring Tools (Machine Tool Spindle-Mounted)
- Collets, Solid & Master
- Milling Cutters
- Tap Drivers & Attachments
- End Mills
- Tool Presetters
- Boring Tools & Heads for Machining Centers
- Spline Rolling Tools
- Tooling Materials, Ceramics
- Drills
- Drill Bushings
- Diamond Tools
- Mass Finishing Media & Compounds
- Spline Inserts
- Shear Blades
- Threading Tools - Cutting
- Facing Tools/Heads
- Grinding Wheels & Belts
- Thread Chasers
- Boring Tools
- Punching Tools/Dies
- Collets for Toolholding
- Gear Cutting Tools
- Cut-Off Tools/Attachments
- Grooving Tools
- Tool Repair, Coating & Treatment Services
- Thread Whirling Tools
- Key Seating Tools
- Tooling Materials, Carbides
- Broaching Tools
- Taps
- Slotting Saws
- Thread Milling Cutters
- Endworking Tools
- Tool Blanks
- Burnishing Tools (Roller)
- Grinding Wheel Dressing Units
- Retention Knobs
- Drilling Heads/Attachments
- Threading Tools
- Tool Conditioning Equipment
- Honing & Lapping Tools
- Serration Tooling
- Protective Sleeves & Coatings (for Cutting Tools)
- Milling Heads/Attachments
- Tool Condition Monitoring Systems
- Form Tools
- Tool Storage & Handling Systems
- Gear Rolling Tools
- Gundrills
- Burnishing, Honing & Lapping Tools
- Saw Blades
- Die & Mold Components
- Buffing & Polishing Supplies
- Knurling Tools
- Arbors (for Cutters)
- Cold Heading Tools
- Counterbores/Countersinks
- Abrasive Compounds & Slurries
- Marking Tools
- Shaving Tools
- Boring Tools for Turning Machines
- Reamers
- Tooling Systems, Modular and/or Quick-Change
- Drill Chucks
- Toolholders
- Chamfering Tools
- Thread Rolls & Dies
- Threading Tools - Forming
- Inserts, Indexable (Carbide, etc.) & Tool Inserts
