Shoulder Milling Inserts APMT Carbide Insert

1.What are carbide inserts?
Carbide inserts are used to accurately machine metals, including steels, carbon, cast iron, high-temperature alloys and other non-ferrous metals. Carbide inserts are replaceable and index-able and come in a huge variety of styles, sizes and grades.
Carbide inserts can be used at high speeds, which enables faster machining, which results in better finishes. It’s crucial that you select the correct carbide insert for the material that you are cutting or you could risk damaging the insert, the machine and the work-piece.

2.How do you identify carbide inserts?
Every carbide insert can be identified using the Turning Tool ISO code system. This straightforward shorthand system covers everything you need to know, and need to tell us, when ordering your new carbide insert.

The ISO code is based on the metric system, with measurements made in millimeters. In America, they use a different system called the American National Standard ANSI B212.4-2002 system that uses inches. We don’t cover that in this guide.

Here’s how it works.
Every carbide insert has an identification code attached to it. This isn’t a random collection of letters and numbers, but a comprehensive system that can help you identify the correct tool.

Each letter or number in the identification code correlates to the phrases in this list.

Clamping Method of Insert
Insert Shape
Holder Style
Clearance Angle of Insert
Hand of Tool Holder
Height of Shank
Width of Shank
Length of Holder
Length of Insert Cutting Edge
By understanding the Turing Tool ISO system, you can quickly identify carbide inserts. Let’s look in a little more detail at each part of the coding system.

Clamping method of insert
There are five different types of clamping methods used for tuning tools. The various methods describe how the carbide insert is clamped, the tool’s shape and the force and rigidity of clamping.

Insert shape
There are ten different insert shapes, but it’s quite a loose classification. There are variations within the classification system which means they should be taken as an identifier.

Holder style
This code is used to describe the style of turning tool. There are 14 different holder styles, with each differentiated by the approach angle of the tool.

Clearance angle of the insert
The fourth letter defines the clearance angle of the insert. There are seven different clearance angles of between 0 degrees and 25 degrees.

Tool holder hand
It’s crucial to know the orientation of the tool – whether it’s left-handed, neutral (centred), or right-handed.

Shank holder
The sixth code refers to the height of the shank. If the sixth number is 20, for example, that would mean the shank is 20mm high.

Shank width
Similar to the width above, the seventh number refers to the complete width of the shank. Again, if the figure is 20, the shank width would be 20mm.

Length of holder
Knowing the length of the holder is essential in selecting the right carbide insert. Each letter refers to a different length. While the differences may seem small, selecting the right part – or a suitable part if your chosen length isn’t available to use – is crucial.

Length of insert cutting edge
The ninth and final part of the Turning Tool ISO code is the length of the cutting insert. The figure is measured in mm, so a 10 would mean the cutting insert has a 10mm cutting edge length.