Tool technologies for milling of hardmetals and ceramics

Hardmetals and ceramics are major substrate materials for a wide range of cutting tools and forming dies. Due to their high specific hardness the final part geometry is usually obtained by sintering of preformed green parts, electrical discharge machining, grinding and/or polishing. Machining by milling is not possible due to fast and unpredictable milling tool failures. To enable milling for tungsten carbides and ceramics new tool technologies are developed. The technologies encompass nanoscaled tungsten carbide hardmetals, innovative coating systems, new milling tool designs as well as adapted milling processes. By combining these technologies it becomes possible to mill different grades of hardmetals and ceramics with hardness values over 1200 HV10.