Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Tool steel, TiN, Ti coat, Cobalt, Carbide.

> Is it worth buying special tooling for a lathe I'm going to use at home? I do
> n't have a sharpening centre, and really don't want to be bothered sharpening
> hss tooling. What are your thoughts on titanium nitride, titanium coated, co
> balt and carbide tooling? Do they even do lathe tooling in the nitrides etc?
> I was planning to perhaps use indexable carbide tools with replaced tips, not
> those brazed ones.

John,

Carbide insert tooling is great, and I think everyone should have some
holders for it (home made or commercial). However it's not for
everything - get a few quality tool bit blanks (or even by some
preground ones to start), a $50 benchgrinder, and then you can quickly
make any specialized tool you might need. For threading, turning
non-ferrous materials, and anytime you need a really, really sharp
tool (carbide is too brittle so the edge can never be as sharp) HSS
can't be beat.

Chris Stratton

-------------------------------------------------
Christopher C. Stratton
Engineer, Instrument Maker, and Horn Player
ccs@... 617 628 1062
http://web.mit.edu/~stratton/www/brassbuild.html