Sandvik Specs a Surprisingly Productive Face Milling Cutter Solution

It’s no secret that standard tools don’t always “cut it” when it comes to composite machining operations. Sandvik Coromant has the solution! A customer of Sandvik Coromant was machining material made of carbon fiber and fiberglass, and used the tools needed to cut fiberglass; however, the elastic fiberglass content made the material very abrasive, which in turn, decreased the life of the tool.

While being cognizant of the strength of the material, Sandvik suggests using an R590 face milling cutter, which is typically the first choice for aluminum, not for composites. Finding the right tool for different kinds of composite material always involves both experience and innovative thinking. Even though the insert price for the R590 cutter is five times higher than for the reference, it became a far more productive solution for the customer. With a tool life that’s four times longer, substantial time and money was saved through fewer tool changes and lower stock requirements.

For more information on Sandvik Coromant and other members of Partners in THINC, visit www.okuma.com/partners.