TopGroove™ Grooving Inserts - grooving insert

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.

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.

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.

Email Address * Please enter a valid Email AddressPlease enter a valid Email AddressThe Email Address entered is already registered, please sign in with the Email Address or enter a different one

Joe Thompson has been covering the Canadian manufacturing sector for more than two decades. He is responsible for the day-to-day editorial direction of the magazine, providing a uniquely Canadian look at the world of metal manufacturing.

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.

© Karnasch Professional Tools GmbH 2024, Theodor-Heuss-Anlage 12, 68165 Mannheim, Germany. Registry number: HRB 431152 ecommerce by red

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:

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.

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.

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

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.

Required Quantity * Quantity is requiredQuantity too largeQuantity must be an integer numberQuantity must be greater than 0

Easily access valuable industry resources now with full access to the digital edition of Canadian Fabricating & Welding.

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).

Email Address * Please enter a valid Email AddressPlease enter a valid Email AddressThe Email Address entered is already registered, please sign in with the Email Address or enter a different one

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).

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.

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.

Email Address * Please enter a valid Email AddressPlease enter a valid Email AddressThe Email Address entered is already registered, please sign in with the Email Address or enter a different one

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:

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).

An award-winning writer and graduate of the Sheridan College journalism program, he has published articles worldwide in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, pharmaceutical, medical, infrastructure, and entertainment.

Contact Number * Please enter a Contact NumberPlease enter a valid Contact Number, the maximum length Is 30 charactersPlease enter a valid Contact Number consisting only Of the following characters & spaces ( ) + 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Ultralift Plus is a lightweight, safe, and easy to operate lifting magnet. Engineered to lift and transport materials without slings, hooks, or chains. Complete with the patented 'Safety Shim' - allows pre-testing of any load to ensure a 3:1 safety factor, guaranteed.

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.

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.

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.

Keep up to date with the latest news, events, and technology for all things metal from our pair of monthly magazines written specifically for Canadian manufacturers!