Kyocera Launches Next-Generation Coated Carbide Grades for Superior Steel Turning

Kyoto, Japan – Kyocera Corporation, a global Japanese ceramics and electronics firm, has introduced new CVD coating materials, CA115P and CA125P, for turning insert grades used in automotive and industrial steel machining. The new coating technologies achieve a high level of wear and fracture resistance, resulting in a long tool life. The CA125P was released in late March of this year, and the CA115P will be available starting in June. In addition, the company introduced a PMG Chipbreaker, which covers a wide range of machining applications, in late March of this year, along with the new insert grades.

A chipbreaker is a groove or protrusion in the rake face of a tool insert to divide and control chips generated when turning. There are different types of chipbreakers for various machining applications and conditions. Kyocera’s new PMG Chipbreaker has a design developed using the company’s proprietary expertise to achieve smooth chip evacuation in medium-roughing. In addition, the low-cutting-force design of the cutting edge suppresses crater wear on the rake face, which enables lasting chip evacuation, further contributing to longer tool life and stable machining.

The new CA115P and CA125P insert grades—the main grades for external and internal turning for steel machining—have a newly developed coating and carbide substrate. The new coating achieves the industry’s highest level 1 (research by Kyocera as of March 2023) of uniformity in alumina crystal orientation through the company’s proprietary crystal forming technology during the CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) process, which helps to ensure outstanding wear resistance. By combining this ultra-uniform alumina layer with a unique TiCN layer and a new carbide substrate with greater high-temperature strength, the insert grades achieve higher wear resistance and fracture resistance, as well as long tool life and stable machining. In addition, the PMG Chipbreaker supports various machining conditions, from medium machining to roughing, making it possible to consolidate tools and contribute to productivity improvement. Kyocera will continue helping customers improve productivity by supplying products that provide better performance, cost efficiency, and functionality.

Features of the New CA115P and CA125P Insert Grades

Newly developed proprietary coatings achieve higher wear and fracture resistance: The newly developed CVD coating has a highly uniform alumina layer with outstanding wear resistance and a TiCN layer with excellent fracture resistance, which provide significant benefits in steel machining. In particular, Kyocera's proprietary crystal forming technology to ensure a highly uniform alumina layer during the CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) process has successfully raised the uniformity of alumina crystal orientation to the highest level in the industry, resulting in approximately 1.5 times*2 higher wear resistance compared to conventional products. It also reduces crater wear on the rake face due to chip scraping, which provides long tool life and stable machining.

Improving productivity in a wide range of machining conditions: CA125P grades support a wide range of machining conditions, from continuous to heavy interrupted machining, and are highly versatile main grades. CA115P grades are for high-efficiency machining in continuous to light-interrupted machining, contributing to productivity improvement through long tool life and stable machining.

Image Source: Kyocera Corporation