HardCut – Effective hard turning with PCBN indexable inserts

Polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (PCBN) is one of the hardest materials in the world and is therefore the ideal cutting material for the HardCut range from CERATIZIT for hard turning.

Only extremely hard cutting materials are capable of machining hardened cast iron materials with hardnesses in excess of 55 HRC using geometrically defined cutting edges. These include polycrystalline diamond (PCD) and polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (PCBN) at the upper end of the material hardness scale, which are the most suitable materials for hard machining. And why? Because PCBN is one of the hardest materials in the world. In addition to a variety of exceptional properties, it is this hardness which makes the material ideal for machining hard, abrasive components – and which makes it the first choice for our HardCut range for hard turning.

No time to lose? Then take a look at our video on our HardCut range and hard turning with PCBN.

The PCBN grades from CERATIZIT and their features

We have three high-performance PCBN grades for hard turning in our portfolio, covering the most common challenges encountered when machining especially hard materials.

CTBH1000C ISO | H10

Specifications:
Composition: Polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (PCBN) 65% | Binder phase ceramic | Grain size: 2-3 μm |
Layer system: PVD TiN / TiAlN

Usage recommendation:
High-performance grade for hard turning in a smooth and slightly interrupted cut. Ideal for extremely worn and hardened steel grades.

CTBH2000C ISO | H20

Specifications:
Composition: Polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (PCBN) 70% | Binder phase ceramic | Grain size: 3 μm |
Layer system: PVD TiN / TiAlN

Usage recommendation:
Excellent surface qualities. First choice for hard-soft machining and surface layer. Perfect for very small-scale production and use in a wide variety of applications.

CTBH3000C ISO | H30

Specifications:
Composition: Polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (PCBN) 40% | Binder phase ceramic | Grain size: 1 μm |
Layer system: PVD TiN / TiAlN

Usage recommendation:
Particularly suitable for strong to slightly interrupted cuts. Can also be used in unfavourable machining conditions such as vibrations.

Selecting the correct PCBN indexable insert

Would you like to find out more about PCBN and its exceptional properties for machining? Then download our white paper.

Properties of PCBN
What is hard machining?
Expert tip: hard turning instead of grinding
Important for stable processes: preparing the cutting edges of PCBN indexable inserts
Know-how: hard turning with PCBN in wet or dry machining?
Optimal surface quality when hard turning with PCBN
We explain all: what are the benefits of a PVD coating on PCBN?
What is better during hard machining: single-cut or dual-cut machining?