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MACHINING CAST IRON WITH PCBN

PCBN can provide a cost effective and highly productive alternative to hard metal or ceramic cutting tools for the machining of cast irons. In general terms, the following factors should be considered when applying PCBN to an iron component:

 

 Cast iron is not generally very hard (less than HRc.30) but tends to be abrasive. PCBN is therefore employed because of its abrasive resistance. Unless the iron has been chilled or deliberately heat treated, the cutting action will be such that the PCBN will not be required to anneal the material being cut in the shear zone. Grey cast irons are often fully pearlitic in structure - Grade 14 & 17 are common. In this case, the best results are gained using DR - 100/80 at surface speeds above 400 m/min. if the machine tool or component limit the speed available to less than 400 m/min, DR - 50 becomes more cost effective. Tool life and component quality improvements are often dramatic and more than justify the increased cost of the PCBN tools. if the grey cast iron is not fully pearlitic and more free ferrite is present within the structure, the machinability of the iron becomes more difficult to predict. As the level of “soft and sticky” ferrite increases, the tool is more likely to suffer adhesion pick up which will alter the cutting action, resulting in premature wear of the tool. DR-50 becomes more likely to provide good results as the level of free ferrite increases and a short trial will soon determine the most suitable PCBN material. Fully ferritic grey cast irons are not generally cost effective PCBN applications. S.G. irons are generally soft (less than HRc.30 ) and fully ferritic. PCBN is therefore not generally as efficient as other cuttingtool materials. There has, however, been a tendency to produce S.G. irons (nodular irons) with a pearlitic structure. This has resulted in some nominally S.G. irons machining surprisingly well with PCBN, DR-50 tending to be more successful. Low alloy irons commonly used in the automotive industry can be machined with PCBN, but the performance is again dependant on the level of free ferrite in the structure of the

iron.

Hardened irons, either heat treated or alloyed and heat treated, are machined in the same manner as hardened steels and are therefore more predictable. Cutting speeds recommended are lower - less than 200 m/min.  It must be remembered that cast iron of a given specification produced by a foundry on one day may have a different machinabilty to that produced the next day. Once the benefits of machining with PCBN have been determined, it may be considered worthwhile ensuring that castings supplied to the machine shop have a suitable microstructure to guarantee consistent PCBN tool performance. if the structure or grade of cast iron is unknown, a simple trial will soon determine the suitability of PCBN as a cutting tool.

 

APPLICATION EXAMPLES

 

Cast Iron – Finishing DR-50

 

Component : Compressor Flange

Machine Tool : Makino Horizontal Machining Centre

Material : Grade 17 grey cast iron

Operation : Face Milling – Fly Cutting

Depth of Cut : 0.2 mm

Insert : CNMA 120412T DE DR-50

Surface Speed : 800 m/min (2670 ft/min) cutting without coolant

Feed Rate: 0.1 mm/rev (0.004”/rev)

Surface Finish: Must be better than 0.8 Ra (32 Cla)

Tool Life: Average 300 minutes contact

Comments: Consistent flatness and surface finish

 

 

Component : Compressor Body

Machine Tool : Makino Horizontal Machining Centre

Material : Grade 17 grey cast iron

Operation : Boring – Interrupted cutting (figure of 8 bores)

Depth of Cut : 0.25 m

Insert : TCMW 16T307T CE DR-50

Surface Speed : 800 m/min (2670 ft/min) cutting without coolant

Feed Rate: 0.1 mm/rev (0.004”/rev)

Surface Finish: Must be better than 0.8 Ra (32 Cla)

Tool Life: Average 300 minutes contact

Comments: Consistent squareness, roundness and surface finish

 

 

Component : Printing press frame

Machine Tool : Segen Boring machine

Material : Grade 17 grey cast iron

Operation : Boring

Depth of Cut : 0.25 mm

Insert : TCMW 16T308T DR-50

Surface Speed : 800 m/min (2670 ft/min) cutting without coolant

Feed Rate: 0.1 mm/rev (0.004”/rev)

Surface Finish: Must be better than 0.8 Ra (32 Cla)

Tool Life: Average 300 minutes contact

Comments: Consistent squareness, roundness and surface finish

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