CBN and PCBN Cutting Tools

Cubic boron nitride cutting tools (CBN) have CBN, which is a synthesized material exceeded in hardness only by diamond. However, unlike diamond cutting tools, CBN cutting tools are stable at temperatures up to 1,800 degrees F for machining hardened ferrous or superalloy materials of Rc 45 or higher and for machining some cast irons.

Polycrystalline cubic boron nitride cutting tools (PCBN) feature PCBN blanks, which are manufactured from CBN crystals using a high-temperature, high-pressure process. CBN cutting tools have crystals, which are either sintered with a binder phase or integrally bonded to a tungsten-carbide substrate. The binder phase, usually a metallic or a ceramic matrix, provides chemical stability that enables the qualities of the PCBN to be used in high-speed machining operations. By varying the binder phase and the percentage of CBN crystals, PCBN cutting tools can be made in a wide range of grades and in a variety of shapes and sizes for turning, boring, facing, forming, milling, grooving, reaming, parting, and fly cutting applications. Because PCBN cutting tools maintain their cutting edge, they impart excellent surface finishes to parts, while maintaining close tolerances and high productivity rates.

Higher CBM content in specific grades of cutting tools provide increased fracture toughness and resistance to abrasion. Cutting tools that have grades with more than 70 percent CBN content exhibit high thermal conductivity, excellent abrasion resistance, and exceptional toughness. High-content CBN cutting tools have grades, which are primarily used for machining case-hardened and through-hardened steels, superalloys, chilled cast iron, sintered metals, pearlitic gray cast iron, hard coatings, hardfacing materials and workhardening materials.

CBN cutting tools with grades less than 69 percent CBN offer low thermal conductivity, low diffusion wear and chemical inertness. Cutting tools with these grades are often used for finish cuts on hardened steels even with interruptions, hard powdered metals, nitrided steels, and hardened cast iron.

PCBN cutting tools can run dry for clean machining processes to save coolant, maintenance, and disposal costs while reducing the potential for environmental and health impacts.

PCBN cutting tools are available as solid, full-face, or tipped inserts. Tipped PCBN cutting tools use PCBN inserts, which can be economical and reliable for a wide range of roughing and finishing applications, and some applications require a solid or full-faced insert.

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