CBN / PCBN Inserts for Hard Material Machining

Master Hard Material Machining with Advanced CBN / PCBN Inserts

Unlock superior efficiency, tool life, and precision when machining hardened ferrous metals, cast irons, and other challenging materials with our advanced Polycrystalline Cubic Boron Nitride (PCBN / CBN) cutting tool inserts. As specialists in superhard tooling, we provide a comprehensive selection of industry-standard CBN inserts and fully customized PCBN solutions, enabling breakthroughs in productivity, often allowing turning operations to replace slower grinding processes.

What is PCBN / CBN and Why Use It?

Polycrystalline Cubic Boron Nitride (PCBN or CBN) is a synthetically produced material, second only to diamond in hardness. It’s created by sintering micron-sized cubic boron nitride particles with various binders under high pressure and temperature onto a carbide substrate or as a high-content composite (for specific applications). This results in a tool material exceptionally suited for cutting hard ferrous materials due to its unique properties:

• High Hot Hardness: Retains hardness and wear resistance at elevated cutting temperatures generated during hard machining.
• Excellent Chemical Stability: Resists chemical reactions with iron and other elements found in ferrous materials, preventing rapid tool wear common with other tool materials at high temperatures.
• Superior Wear Resistance: Offers significantly longer tool life compared to carbide or ceramic tools when machining hardened steels, cast irons, and superalloys.
• Thermal Shock Resistance: Withstands temperature fluctuations encountered in interrupted cuts.
• Productivity Gains: Enables higher cutting speeds and feed rates, significantly reducing cycle times for hard part machining.

Typical Applications & Industries

Our high-performance PCBN / CBN inserts deliver exceptional results in demanding operations across various key industrial sectors. They are the preferred choice for machining hard and abrasive ferrous materials. Key application areas and common insert types include:

• Automotive Industry:
  • Hard turning and milling of hardened steel components like gears, shafts (crankshafts, camshafts), bearings, and CV joints.
  • High-speed machining of cast iron brake discs, brake drums, engine blocks, and cylinder liners. Commonly utilizes robust negative rake CBN inserts (e.g., CNGA, SNGA, WNGA, DNGA) or positive rake PCBN inserts (e.g., CCGT, DCGT, VBGW) depending on the operation.
• Mold & Die Industry:
  • Machining of hardened tool steels (HRC > 45) for molds and dies. Often employs PCBN inserts (e.g., CNGA, SNGA, RCGX style tips) for precise finishing.
• Aerospace Industry:
  • Machining of difficult-to-cut superalloys (e.g., Inconel) and hardened steel landing gear components. Utilizes specific CBN grades and edge preparations, often in insert forms like CNGA, SNGA, RCMX style tips.
• Heavy Machinery & Manufacturing:
  • Machining large cast iron housings, hardened gears, bearings, and hydraulic components. Robust inserts like SNGA/SNMG, CNGA/CNMG types are frequently used.

Comprehensive Range of CBN / PCBN Insert Solutions

We offer a complete portfolio, focusing on standard inserts and versatile custom designs:

Standard ISO CBN / PCBN Inserts

Benefit from interchangeability and reliability with our wide selection of ISO standard CBN/PCBN inserts. We cover numerous geometries suitable for hard turning, milling, boring, and grooving. Common configurations include:

• Turning (80° Rhombic / C-Type): CNGA, CNMA, CNMG, CNMN, CCGT, CCMT, CCGW
• Turning (Square / S-Type): SNGA, SNMA, SNMG, SNMN, SCGT, SCMT
• Turning (60° Triangle / T-Type): TNGA, TNMA, TNMG, TNGN, TCGT, TCMT, TCGW
• Turning (55° Diamond / D-Type): DNGA, DNMA, DNMG, DCGT, DCMT, DCGW
• Turning (35° Diamond / V-Type): VNGA, VNMA, VCGT, VCMT, VBGW
• Turning (Trigon / W-Type): WNGA, WNMA, WNMG, WNMN
• Turning (Round / R-Type): RCGX, RCMX, RNGN
• Milling (Indexable): APKT, SEHT, SEHW, SPKN
• Grooving: MGGN, MRGN, VGGN, VRGN

(Available in various CBN contents (Low, Medium, High) optimized for different materials and cutting conditions. Standard edge preparations like chamfers (K-lands) and hones are available. Many negative rake inserts allow multiple indexing for maximum economy per insert.)

Custom Engineered PCBN Inserts

When standard tools don’t meet your specific challenge, our engineering team can develop custom PCBN solutions, often involving inserts brazed onto carbide substrates or utilizing specially designed formats. We tailor inserts for:

• Unique Geometries: Non-standard shapes, profiles, angles, or sizes.
• Optimized Edge Preparations: Custom chamfers, hones, or combinations for maximum performance.
• Application-Specific Grades: Precise selection of CBN content, grain size, and binder for your material and process.
• Integrated Features: Custom chipbreakers, wiper geometries for enhanced finish, or specialized locating pits.
• Coatings: Application-specific PVD coatings (e.g., TiAlN, TiN based) can be applied to enhance performance, wear resistance, or reduce friction.

Advanced Features for Optimal Performance

Leverage our advanced insert features, often customizable, to further enhance your machining results:

• Chipbreakers: Control chip flow, reduce cutting forces, and improve process security, especially in automated lines.
• Wiper Edges: Achieve superior surface finishes at higher feed rates.
• Locating Pits: Improve insert positioning accuracy and stability in the toolholder.
• Coatings: Provide enhanced wear resistance, heat resistance, lubricity, or impact resistance depending on the coating type selected.

Your Expert Partner in Hard Machining

We are dedicated to providing premium quality CBN / PCBN inserts backed by in-depth application knowledge and technical support. Our commitment to quality materials, precision manufacturing, and tailored solutions ensures you achieve optimal results in your most demanding hard machining operations. Rely on our expertise for:

• High-Quality CBN/PCBN Materials: Ensuring consistent performance and tool life.
• Precision Manufacturing: Guaranteeing tight tolerances and geometric accuracy.
• Application Support: Helping you select the right grade, geometry, edge prep, and cutting parameters.

Download Our Comprehensive Catalog

Explore detailed specifications, grades, standard dimensions, and application guidance in our full PCBN / CBN Insert Catalog.

Request a Quote or Technical Consultation

Ready to conquer your hard machining challenges? Contact our expert team today to discuss your specific application, request a quote for standard CBN/PCBN inserts, or start designing your custom tooling solution.