New Angle on Aluminum

摘要

Traditional physical vapor deposition coatings, such as TiN, TiCN and TiAlN, are generally considered unsuitable when milling and drilling aluminum. The PVD process typically produces a coated surface that is rougher than the carbide substrate, causing aluminum chips to collect on this rough surface as built-up edge. However, a new tita-nium-diboride tool coating allows successful machining of aluminum. A TiB_2 coating produced by Hardcoating Technologies Ltd., Munroe Falls, Ohio, reduces costs when machining workpieces made from aluminum, as well as titanium, magnesium and copper alloys.