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

As long as you keep it below red heat and don't quench it, you can
grind the heck out of a hss blank. Put the blank in a pair of
vice grips and have at it. Couple of minutes to rough it out
and a few more to touch it up on a fine wheel, then a bit of
honing and you have a very sharp tool.

Got that tip from Ed Huntress.

I use carbide inserts for most stuff, but sometimes you can't
beat a sharp hss tool. And sometimes you need a custom cutter.
I just bought a cabinet at a shop garage sale in part because it had a
whole drawer of HSS toolbits (well that, and the drawer of carbide
insert tooling and inserts)

Paul

--
Paul Amaranth | Rochester MI, USA
Aurora Group, Inc. | Systems & Software
paul@... | Unix / Windows / NT