Tag: Seco
Milling Cutter Geometry Reference: Rake, Helix and Lead Angle Effects on Cutting Parameters Explained
Two shops can run the same 80 mm face mill on the same 4140 block at the same spindle speed and get completely different tool life. The difference is usually not the grade or the coating — it is the geometry. Lead angle, rake angle, helix angle and corner radius are the four numbers that …
Cast Iron Face Milling Tool Selection Guide: Insert Grades, Geometries and Parameters Compared
Why Cast Iron Face Milling Is a Different Problem Cast iron looks like a simple material on paper: moderate hardness, relatively low cutting forces, and no built-up edge problems like austenitic stainless steel. In practice, face milling cast iron punishes cutters in ways that steel milling does not. The graphite phase that makes grey iron …
Turning 304 and 316 Stainless Steel: Cutting Parameters, Chip Control and Grade Selection Best Practices
Why Austenitic Stainless Steel Is Difficult to Turn Austenitic stainless steels such as AISI 304 and 316 account for a large share of CNC turning work in the medical, food equipment, chemical and marine industries. Yet they remain one of the most frequently mis-machined material families in job shops. The difficulties come from four metallurgical …
Turning 304 and 316 Stainless Steel: Cutting Parameters, Chip Control and Grade Selection Best Practices
Why Austenitic Stainless Steel Is Difficult to Turn Austenitic stainless steels such as AISI 304 and 316 account for a large share of CNC turning work in the medical, food equipment, chemical and marine industries. Yet they remain one of the most frequently mis-machined material families in job shops. The difficulties come from four metallurgical …
Aluminum Alloy High-Speed Milling Tool Selection Guide: Insert Geometry, Grades and Cutting Parameters Compared
Aluminum alloys are the default workpiece in aerospace, electric-vehicle component, and general machining shops, yet tooling for them is still one of the most frequently mis-specified areas in production. The reason is simple: the parameters that make steel machining efficient actively damage aluminum cutting edges. High rake angles, polished surfaces, and open chip room matter …
ISO P/M/K/N/S/H Carbide Turning Grades: Complete Cutting Parameter Reference Guide
Introduction: Why Grade Selection Matters More Than You Think Selecting the right carbide turning grade is arguably the single most impactful decision in any turning operation. The grade determines your cutting speed, tool life, surface finish, and ultimately your cost per part. Yet many machinists rely on habit or supplier recommendations without fully understanding the …
ISO P/M/K/N/S/H Carbide Turning Grades: Complete Cutting Parameter Reference GuideRead More
Seco Duratomic CVD Coating Technology Explained: Al2O3 Layer Architecture, Grade Selection, and Steel Turning Parameters
CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) coatings have been the workhorse of steel turning for decades, but the deposition of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) layers has long presented metallurgical challenges. Seco Tools’ Duratomic technology represents a fundamental shift in how these layers are engineered—not merely deposited—at the atomic level. This article breaks down the Duratomic coating architecture, explains …
Inconel 718 Milling Best Practices: Tool Selection, Cutting Parameters, and Troubleshooting for ISO S Superalloys
Introduction: The Inconel 718 Machining Challenge Inconel 718 (UNS N07718) is a nickel-based superalloy that has become the material of choice for high-temperature, high-stress applications across aerospace, power generation, and chemical processing industries. Its exceptional mechanical strength at temperatures exceeding 700°C, combined with outstanding oxidation and corrosion resistance, makes it indispensable for turbine discs, combustion …
Iscar vs Seco Stainless Steel Turning Inserts: Grade Technology, Coatings, and Cutting Parameters Compared
Introduction: Why Stainless Steel Turning Demands Specialized Grades Stainless steel—particularly austenitic grades like AISI 304 and 316L—remains one of the most challenging workpiece materials in CNC turning. Its combination of low thermal conductivity, high work-hardening tendency, and built-up edge (BUE) susceptibility places extreme demands on cutting tool grades. Heat concentrates at the cutting edge instead …
