Zahnrad Kopf
Diamond
- Joined
- Apr 5, 2010
- Location
- Tropic of Milwaukee
Is there anyone here with in-depth applications knowledge and experience with PVD coatings? I want to have some tools coated and am running into a hard wall of salesman horse puckey.
Bottom line is that the Gear Shaper Cutters that I design and make in-house have gotten to a point that we are no longer using them solely for prototyping designs and small runs. The capability has become 20x more popular than I ever dreamed it would. That is fantastic, but what comes with that is the reality that now we are being asked to do longer runs and larger quantities with them.
Suddenly, tool life becomes an issue. And for all the work that goes into an Asymmetrical Tooth Form tool (or Skip Tooth / Skip Space tool ) from designing it, drawing it, to purchasing the carbide blank, to manufacturing it, and then using it ( not to mention all the tool holding to accommodate them ), I don't want to have to make more than what is required to run the actual job just to have an extra on hand in case one decides to break or one of us has a bozo moment and runs it without oil or too fast.
So, I know I want to have them coated, but what I do not know is which coating to use. Some coatings don't play well with some materials. And some coatings do not like carbide, I have been told. At the price point that it appears we are working it, cost is not even a concern. We are talking about possibly a $10 difference in cost to us.
However, if one coating is going to be demonstrably better than another, I want to know and choose that one...
Tools are solid carbide. Parts are commonly alloy steels ranging from 35 - 50 HRC, but Martensitic Stainless is not uncommon. Aluminum and Cast Iron happen occasionally.
Part of the issue I am running into is that salesmen are making stupid claims without having a clue about what gear shaping even is, much less the cutting forces involved versus milling or turning. The best comparison I have been able to come up with is a broach, but then then don't know what to say after that.
Right now, I am leaning toward AlCrN ( Aluminum Chromium Nitride ) but if there is a better choice, I would definitely like to know.
Thanks.
Bottom line is that the Gear Shaper Cutters that I design and make in-house have gotten to a point that we are no longer using them solely for prototyping designs and small runs. The capability has become 20x more popular than I ever dreamed it would. That is fantastic, but what comes with that is the reality that now we are being asked to do longer runs and larger quantities with them.
Suddenly, tool life becomes an issue. And for all the work that goes into an Asymmetrical Tooth Form tool (or Skip Tooth / Skip Space tool ) from designing it, drawing it, to purchasing the carbide blank, to manufacturing it, and then using it ( not to mention all the tool holding to accommodate them ), I don't want to have to make more than what is required to run the actual job just to have an extra on hand in case one decides to break or one of us has a bozo moment and runs it without oil or too fast.
So, I know I want to have them coated, but what I do not know is which coating to use. Some coatings don't play well with some materials. And some coatings do not like carbide, I have been told. At the price point that it appears we are working it, cost is not even a concern. We are talking about possibly a $10 difference in cost to us.
However, if one coating is going to be demonstrably better than another, I want to know and choose that one...
Tools are solid carbide. Parts are commonly alloy steels ranging from 35 - 50 HRC, but Martensitic Stainless is not uncommon. Aluminum and Cast Iron happen occasionally.
Part of the issue I am running into is that salesmen are making stupid claims without having a clue about what gear shaping even is, much less the cutting forces involved versus milling or turning. The best comparison I have been able to come up with is a broach, but then then don't know what to say after that.
Right now, I am leaning toward AlCrN ( Aluminum Chromium Nitride ) but if there is a better choice, I would definitely like to know.
Thanks.