PCD and CBN Inserts | JDCNC

PCD: Polycrystalline Diamond

PCD: Polycrystalline Diamond

PCD: Polycrystalline Diamond

Polycrystalline diamond (PCD) is a synthetic material made from diamond particles that are sintered (fused together) under high pressure and temperature. This process creates a composite material with exceptional hardness, wear resistance, and thermal conductivity, making it suitable for various applications like cutting tools.

Advantages:
PCD offers several advantages over other materials, including:
-Hardness: PCD is one of the hardest materials known, making it ideal for cutting and grinding hard materials.
-Wear Resistance: Its exceptional wear resistance means PCD tools last longer than tools made from other materials.
-Thermal Stability: PCD can withstand high temperatures without losing its properties, making it suitable for high-speed cutting applications.

Applications:

Non-ferrous metals:
Aluminum, and other non-ferrous materials, are commonly machined with PCD tools due to their high hardness and resistance to wear, especially in high-speed machining.

Composites:
PCD tooling is well-suited for machining composite materials like carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP), fiberglass reinforced plastics (GFRP), and metal matrix composites (MMCs), where the abrasive nature of the fibers or reinforcing particles can quickly wear down standard carbide tools.

Woodworking:
PCD is used in woodworking for cutting engineered wood products like chipboard, MDF, and particle board, which are known for their abrasive nature.

Other applications:
PCD is also used in the electronics industry for cutting and drilling printed circuit boards, and in the aerospace industry for machining aluminum structural components.

CBN: Cubic Boron Nitride

PCD: Polycrystalline Diamond

PCD: Polycrystalline Diamond

Cubic boron nitride (CBN) is a superhard material with a crystalline structure similar to diamond, but with better thermal and chemical stability. It's known for its high hardness, wear resistance, and ability to machine hardened materials. CBN is often used in cutting and abrasive applications, especially for ferrous materials.

Applications:
CBN is used in cutting tools, grinding wheels, and other abrasive applications, especially for working with hardened steels and other ferrous materials.

Hardened Steel:
CBN is a preferred material for machining hardened steel, particularly those with a Rockwell hardness of 50 or higher. It's often used for finishing operations on hardened steels.

Cast Iron:
CBN can effectively machine cast iron, including gray, ductile, and chilled cast iron.

Heat-Resistant Alloys:
CBN is also suitable for machining heat-resistant alloys, such as Inconel.

Other Hard Materials:
Beyond these specific materials, CBN can be used on various hard materials like tool steels, stellite, refractory metals, and superalloys.