Three major development directions for future CNC cutting tools

With the rapid development of manufacturing technology, industries such as automobiles, aerospace, and molds have put forward higher requirements for cutting tools, which requires CNC cutting tools to have the characteristics of high efficiency, high precision, high reliability, and specialization.
(1) Pay attention to the dynamic balance performance of cutting tools
In recent years, the HSK tool system has gradually replaced the traditional 7:24 taper tool system, with better connection rigidity and machining accuracy. The HSK tool system is suitable for speeds generally above 1500 revolutions per minute and can be used for high-speed cutting. With the continuous iteration of machine tool and tool interface technology, HSK tool system will become an important development direction in the future.
Tool dynamic balance is the core indicator of high-speed milling tools. For this reason, many enterprises have developed specialized dynamic balancing instruments based on the tool dynamic balancing standards. The Italian CEMB company previously exhibited a vertical tool dynamic balancing instrument, which can fully automatically complete tool dynamic balancing detection. The computer screen intuitively displays the unbalance amount, phase angle, and required balance weight.
(2) Adjustable cutting tools meet higher performance requirements
The rapid upgrading of manufacturing technology and the continuous improvement of performance requirements for reversible cutting tools in the automotive, aerospace, and mold industries are driving the sustainable development of the reversible cutting tool industry. At present, the reversible cutting tools are upgraded in the direction of high forward speed, small cutting depth, and large feed.
Multiple companies have launched reversible cutting tools with a brand new blade shape, miniaturized blade specifications, smaller cutting angle, and a new clamping structure, with a single tooth feed rate of up to 3.5 millimeters. Relying on small cutting depth and large feed rate to achieve high material removal rate is the core development direction of high-speed indexing milling cutters.
Various types of modular and specialized rotatable cutting tools are also key categories urgently needed for research and development in industries such as automobiles. The research and development of combination cutting tools and specialized cutting tools have strong plasticity; Combination cutting tools can complete multiple machining processes in one clamping, so special cutting tools such as combination cutting tools have significant advantages in tool management and reducing machining tool costs.
(3) Significant breakthroughs have been made in tool coating technology
Tool coating technology is the core and key technology driving the upgrading of cutting processing technology. At present, the mainstream improved coating materials include titanium nitride (TiN), titanium carbon nitride (TiCN), etc. By using computer-controlled physical vapor deposition (PVD) and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) coating processes, the above-mentioned coating materials are applied to the surface modification coating of end mills, reamers, drill bits, composite cutting tools, and rotatable inserts to meet the processing requirements of high-speed, long-life cutting, as well as high-strength and high hardness materials.
The use of PVD and CVD coatings on the surface of cutting tools can significantly improve the cutting performance of CNC tools and broaden their applicable machining range.
Compared to the rapid development of coating technology, the research and development progress of tool substrate materials is relatively slow. All kinds of tool exhibitions reflect the trend of popularization and application of ultra-fine grain hard alloy materials, which have excellent performance and are widely used in the production of CNC tools such as indexing inserts, small drills, end mills, taps, and conventional tools.
The matrix materials and coating technology of CNC cutting tools belong to the forefront of scientific research. The emergence of every new product will push the cutting process to a new height.