The eighth, ninth, and 10th positions in ANSI’s guide are optional and represent the cutting edge condition (aka edge prep, such as sharp, rounded, or chamfered); cutting direction (left, right, or neutral); and information on the insert’s chipformer (FP -- finishing sharp, UN -- universal medium, and HP – high positive).

Inserts can be designed with or without holes; have cylindrical, single-countersink, or double-countersink holes; and come with multiple chipformer styles. If the insert has a designation of X in this location, it has a special design.

Whether the application calls for rough turning, medium turning, or finish turning, the decision on what technology to use should come well before the material is loaded onto the machine or into the bar feeder.

Insert choice requires taking into consideration a whole host of variables, including an insert’s size, shape, and overall design features. In most cases, the tool is held in a fixed position in a tool body and the workpiece rotates in the lathe’s turning axis.

Insert thickness is measured from the bottom of the insert to the top of the cutting edge. It also is shown as a one- or two-digit number (indicating the number sixteenths of an inch). Much like the size designation, it is a one-digit number when it describes a whole number. In our example, the insert’s thickness, 3, means that it is 3/16 in. thick.

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The space provided by this clearance keeps the insert from rubbing against the part. If the insert does have a 0-degree clearance angle (N), chances are it is being used in a roughing operation. The different clearances are:

For parallelogram- and rectangular-shaped inserts, width and length dimensions are used instead of the I.C. In these cases, a two-digit number designates the insert’s size. The first digit is how wide the insert is (in eighths of an inch) and the second digit is how long the insert is (in quarters of an inch).

Our example has a G in this place. This indicates that the insert has a cylindrical hole and has a double-sided chipformer.

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The first place shows the shape of the insert. There are 17 standard indexable insert shapes, and each is given a capital letter. In our example, C indicates that the insert is a rhombic-shaped insert of 80 degrees.

Turning on a lathe is an operation in which a stationary single-point cutting tool meets a rotating workpiece to produce axially symmetrical shapes. Sounds pretty easy, right? Well, it typically is, if the correct cutting parameters and inserts are chosen for the job.

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The portfolio of standard milling tools is rounded off with a particularly cost-effective milling range with pressed, radial ISO indexable inserts. The new powerful face, shoulder, slot and shell end face milling cutters are designed for roughing and for medium machining of cast iron, steel and stainless steel.  Face milling cutters Roughing and semi-machining face surfaces. Highly cost-effective due to sintered, radial indexable inserts Cutting depths up to ap = 5 mm Indexable insert with eight cutting edges and positive basic shape for parts susceptible to vibration Highly cost-effective indexable insert with 16 cutting edges and negative basic shape Contact angle 45° Shoulder milling cutters Ideal for milling 90° shoulder surfaces. Radial indexable inserts with two, four and eight cutting edges Indexable inserts with positive basic shape for parts susceptible to vibration Cutting depths up to ap = 11 mm Contact angle 90° ​​​​​​​ Shell end face milling cutters For roughing with high cutting depths. Ideal for deep shoulder milling and for trimming. Radial indexable inserts with two and four cutting edges for small diameters from 25 mm Cutting depths up to ap = 62 mm Contact angle 90°

Insert measurements and tolerances can get tricky and change based on the insert's shape, so it’s a good idea to consult the literature that accompanies your tooling purchase to get this right.

Also known as the clearance, the second place shows the angle between the flank and top surface of the insert. Each relief angle is denoted by a capital letter. In our example, the insert has a 0-degree relief angle.

For turning inserts, it comes in the form of a 10-place string of numbers and letters, (the first seven are required and the last three are optional), with each describing a portion of the tool.

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Milling deep shoulder surfaces or slots. Can be used as gang milling cutter or milling shaft.Cutting depths of up to 17 mmDiameter range from 100 to 200 mmIdeal for machine tools with extending sleeveCan be adjusted axially for finishingContact angles of 88° and 90°

The fourth place in an insert’s designation is another capital letter. This one helps describe more of the insert’s design features, such as its fixing holes, countersinks, and any chipformer features. There are 14 standard types (A, B, C, D, G, J, M, N, Q, R, T, U, W, X).

The success or failure of a turning job often depends on decisions made early in the process -- before the cutting even begins -- about a small piece of carbide, cermet, ceramic, or diamond.

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These measurements and tolerances can get tricky and change based on the insert's shape, so it’s a good idea to consult the literature that accompanies your tooling purchase to get this right.

Ideal for milling 90° shoulder surfaces.Cutting depths of up to 14 mmDiameter range from 16 to 200 mmSeries for inclined entry, full slot milling and plunge millingAlternating installation of indexable inserts LTHU possibleFour or eight-cutting edge indexable insertsAxial adjustment for highest surface qualityContact angles of 88° and 90°

Customer-specific custom solutions with PCD cutting edges for highest requirements.Milling cutters as combination tool for reduced non-productive timesMilling cartridges can be realised with customer-specific shapes and contoursCircular milling cutters for complex contours and recesses

To do this it’s important to have at least some understanding of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) turning insert designations. ANSI developed this system of numbers and letters (B212.4-2002) to allow machinists, purchasing departments, and tooling sellers to quickly and easily describe the shape, dimensions, and important parameters of turning inserts. It essentially gets everyone on the same page.

Some inserts, like round ones (R), have high edge strength, while some rhombic-shaped inserts (D and V) have a sharp point, which is good for finishing operations. Trigonal inserts (W) often are used for rough machining because of their larger point angle. Each has its place. The shape of the insert also determines how many separate edges can be indexed to as each wears out. The common insert shapes are:

There are 14 tolerance classes, the third place, that show how each insert indexes. Each class is denoted by a capital letter. Letters for tolerances are A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, U, and N, which describe the size of the cornerpoint, thickness, and the inscribed circle (I.C.) of the insert. An I.C. is the largest circle that can be drawn inside the given shape.

Customer-specific custom tools with ISO elements for highest requirements.Advantages of tangential technology also on custom milling cuttersMulti-stage milling cutters for reduced tool changesHybrid tools combine different tool systems

Ideal for producing the best surface finishes on parts made of aluminium. Realisation of surfaces with Rz ≤ 5 μm Diameter range from 32 to 500 mm Innovative chip guiding geometry for high process reliability Wedge adjustment to the μ for perfect surface finishes HSC milling cutters in lightweight design for machines with limited spindle power Milling cutters with brazed cutting edges for cutting depths of up to 8 mm

Single-point cutting tools remove workpiece material by using one of the insert’s cutting edges. But how do you differentiate one insert from another? It starts by understanding their designation.

For roughing large bore diameters (> 150 mm).Cutting depths of up to 35 mmDiameter range from 80 to 160 mmPlunging and ramping possibleOptionally with vibration damperIdeal for machining centresContact angle 90°

A large nose radius can use higher feed rates, larger DOCs, and handle more radial pressure. A small nose radius takes only small cutting depths, has a weaker cutting edge, and can handle only a small amount of vibration. Our example insert has a radius of 2, meaning it has a nose radius of 1/32 in.

The fifth position in ANSI’s designation is either a one-digit or a two-digit number that shows the I.C. size (in eighths of an inch) for round, square, triangle, trigonal, pentagonal, hexagonal, octagonal, and rhombic inserts. If it’s a one-digit number, the eighths of an inch make a whole number.

For roughing with high cutting depths. Ideal for deep shoulder milling and for trimming.Cutting depths of up to 75 mmDiameter range from 25 to 200 mmAlso suitable for heavy machining and full slot millingContact angle 90°

To help insert recognition, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) developed B212.4-2002 to allow machinists, purchasing departments, and tooling sellers to quickly and easily describe the shape, dimensions, and important parameters of turning inserts.

Roughing and semi-finish machining face surfaces.Cutting depths of up to 10 mmDiameter range from 63 to 200 mmAlternating installation of indexable inserts LTHU possibleFour or eight-cutting edge indexable insertsContact angles of 45° and 75°

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The DOC should not exceed 66 per cent of the cutting edge's length for insert shapes S and C, 50 per cent of the cutting edge's length for insert shapes T and D, 25 per cent of the cutting edge's length for insert shapes W and V, and 40 per cent of the insert's diameter for shape R.

Other than shape, an insert’s size is one of the variables that is easily noticed. In our example, the 4 indicates that the insert’s size is 1/2 in.