Carbide Insert (Base Tier) | General machining, steel/cast iron jobs | - ISO K10 grade carbide (hardness 1450 HV) - Square shape (KC5010 series) - AlTiN coating (3μm, ASTM E3766) | ▲ 3x longer lifespan than HSS (150 min wear life, ISO 3685) - Cost-effective | Less precision for fine finishes - Limited to moderate cutting speeds (≤30 m/min) |
Carbide Insert (Advanced Tier) | Precision CNC machining, stainless steel | - KC5010 premium carbide (hardness 1550 HV) - Triangular shape (ISO WNMG) - TiAlN coating (5μm, ASTM E3766) | ▲ 20% higher precision (±0.002 mm tolerance) ▲ 40% longer wear life (200 min) - Handles 1000°C temps (ASTM E23) | Higher cost (2x Base) - Requires CNC for optimal use |
High-Speed Steel (HSS) Insert | Low-cost machining, light-duty tasks | - M2 HSS material (hardness 65 HRC) - Uncoated, generic shape (ISO CNMG) | Lowest upfront cost - Easier to resharpen (ISO 13399) | ▲ 5x shorter lifespan (30 min wear life) - Limited to ≤20 m/min speeds |
Ceramic Insert (Industry) | High-temperature, high-speed aluminum work | - Silicon nitride ceramic (hardness 1800 HV) - Sharp edge geometry | ▲ 2x faster speeds (120 m/min) - Withstands 1200°C (ASTM E23) | Brittle (risk of chipping) - Not suitable for interrupted cuts |
Diamond-Coated Insert | Ultra-precision stone/ceramic cutting | - Polycrystalline diamond (PCD) coating (ISO 55000) - Flat shape for grinding | ▲ 50% finer surface finish (Ra 0.1 μm) - Abrasive-resistant | Extremely high cost (5x Advanced) - Not for metal machining |
Titanium Coated HSS Insert | Moderate-duty, cost-sensitive tasks | - HSS substrate with TiN coating (2μm, ASTM E3766) - Rounded edges | ▲ 2x wear life vs uncoated HSS (60 min) - Improved corrosion resistance | Lower precision than carbide - Limited to ≤25 m/min speeds |