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Universal nanocomposite coating for milling and drilling C-steels with outstanding performance in superalloys, hard material machining, and high heat applications written by Bernard Martin  Rocky Mountain Twist Drill's introduction of Blue nACo coating is a truly revolutionary surface treatment to enter the market in the drilling segment. Blue nACo was developed by PLATIT, an independent, family-owned company headquartered in Selzach, Switzerland. PLATIT is a manufacturer of high-tech PVD and PECVD hard coating equipment for tools and machine components. Blue nACo is an AlTiSi-based nanocomposite coating and performs best in the field of milling and drilling C-steels and outstanding performance in superalloys, hard material machining, and high heat applications. The use of nACo provides excellent adhesion and good performance even for more unusual applications such as milling with coated ceramic tools and CBN tools. Lubricity, hardness, heat resistance- Blue nACo has it all. Rocky Mountain Twist Drill has several Platit Coating Chambers operating around the clock to apply this incredible surface treatment. This treatment has been shown to improve drilling operations with its exceptional lubricity, unmatched hardness, and impressive heat resistance. An AITiSi-based nanocomposite coating, The culmination of over 20 years field testing, Blue nACo coating has demonstrated an elevated the performance of Rocky Mountain Twist Drill's products. This coating is a testament to the commitment to pushing boundaries and delivering solutions that meet the evolving demands of the metalcutting sector. What do you need in a drill coating particularly for superalloys, hard material machining, and high heat applications? Typically the goal is a super thin coating layer that compliments the drill geometry and grind finish, a high hardness for wear resistance and a high level of lubricity so that the chips can slide up and out of the flutes. Keep in mind also that there's a tremendous amount of heat generated in the cutting tool process so the coating needs to be able to not only withstand that heat but also be "slippery" e.g. have a low coefficient of friction, aka lubricity, to evacuate the chip quickly. Blue nACo coating has pushed the boundaries of that desired balance in each of those categories. Blue nACo LubricityLubricity, as measured by the coefficient of friction receives a significant boost with the Blue nACo coating. The incorporation of nanocomposite technology reduces adhesion between cutting edge of the and workpiece. This ensures reduced friction and enhanced wear resistance, resulting in smoother drilling operations. It translates to improved chip evacuation, reduced tool wear, and increased tool life – a trifecta that directly impacts productivity and cost-effectiveness.
BLUE NACO HardnessAs an indicator of the material's ability against deformation, hardness has been studied for more than a century. Adding a coatings provides an extra layer of protection to the drill, ensuring longevity and durability with this additional hard wearing layer. The Nano-hardness of the Blue nACo coating is 39-41 GPa (which roughly converts to Micorhardness ~3977 ~ 4181Hv) which is in the higher hardness range when compared to many other common coatings used on drills. In Rocky Mountain Twist Drill users can expect consistent performance even in the face of challenging materials, making the Blue (nACo) coating an invaluable asset for demanding drilling applications.  Blue nACo coating characteristics in metalcutting materials for Steels, Hardened Steels, Stainless Steels, Superalloys, Cast Iron, and Non-Ferrous materials BLUE NACO Heat resistanceHeat resistance is a critical factor in drilling operations, where elevated temperatures can compromise tool integrity and precision. According to Platit, the maximum service temperature for the coating is 1200°C or about 2192°F. which is substantially higher that the most common coatings used on drills such at TiN, TiCN, TiAlN and AlTiN.
The Blue nACo coating advanced thermal stability ensures that the drill maintains peak performance even in high-temperature environments, reducing the risk of premature tool failure and minimizing downtime. Behind the scenes, Platit Coating Chambers has played a pivotal role in bringing the Blue (nACo) coating to fruition at Rocky Mountain Twist Drill. Operating around the clock, their state-of-the-art facilities have been dedicated to applying this surface treatment, to their very deep drilling product offering. The Blue nACo coating represents a leap forward in drill surface treatment technology. Rocky Mountain Twist Drill's dedication to providing its customers with tools that embody precision, durability, and efficiency is exemplified in this cutting-edge coating. As the metalcutting industry continues to advance, the Blue nACo coating stands poised to make a lasting impact, setting a new bar for performance and reliability in drilling operations.
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by Bernard Martin Unlock the full potential of your composite machining with Decatur Diamond's high-performance cutting tools! From carbon fiber and glass fiber reinforced polymers to metal matrix composites, their extensive range includes versatile routers, honeycomb routers, compression routers, diamond cut routers, and drilling products. Engineered for precision, durability, and efficiency, their tools minimize delamination and fiber pullout while ensuring clean, precise cuts and extended tool life. Discover why Decatur Diamond is the industry leader in advanced tooling solutions for composite materials.  Decatur Diamond offers a broad range of tools for matching composites. Show here from right to left:End mIlls, Compression Router, Honeycomb Router, Diamond Coated Turning Inserts, Router and Drills. Decatur Diamond offers an extensive range of high-performance cutting tools optimized for machining composite materials, including carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP), glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP), and metal matrix composites (MMC). These advanced tools allow for the efficient machining of large parts, reducing tooling changeovers and overall costs. By tailoring super hard materials such as coated CVD, CVD, and PCD fabricated tools, Decatur Diamond meets the unique challenges of machining composites. Below is an overview of our specific product lines that make Decatur Diamond's tools unique in the industry.  Decatur Diamond's Diamond Coated End Mills Diamond Coated End Mills Decatur Diamond 's Diamond Coated End Mills are designed for high-performance machining of non-ferrous materials. With potentially the best diamond adhesion in the coated tool industry, these tools offer coating thickness and crystal size options to meet various application requirements. Available in square, corner rounding, ball, and profiling geometries, these end mills ensure superior performance and tool life. Sizes start from 0.015” (1mm) and can be customized for special applications.
 Decatur Diamond's Diamond Coated Inserts Diamond Coated Inserts Decatur Diamond 's Diamond Coated Inserts are available in common ISO & ANSI standards, as well as in milling insert forms. These inserts come with various coating thickness and crystal size options to meet different application needs, ensuring high performance and durability. Geometries include CCMT, CNMP, DCMT, DNMP, TCMT, TPG, TPGH, VBMT, VBMW, and VNMP styles
 Decatur Diamond’s Versatile Router Versatile Router Decatur Diamond’s Versatile Router is designed for a wide range of composite materials, providing excellent performance and durability. These routers are particularly effective in minimizing delamination and fiber pullout, ensuring clean and precise cuts. The versatile design allows for adaptability in various applications, reducing the need for multiple tools and streamlining the machining process.  Decatur Diamond’s Honeycomb Router Honeycomb Router Decatur Diamond ’s Honeycomb Router is specifically engineered for machining honeycomb structures, which are common in aerospace and other high-performance industries. These routers are designed to maintain the structural integrity of the honeycomb material while providing smooth and accurate cuts. The unique geometry and cutting edge design minimize fraying and ensure a longer tool life.  Decatur Diamond Compression Router Compression Router The Compression Router from Decatur Diamond is optimized for machining layered composite materials. It features a unique compression design that pushes the material toward the center of the tool, preventing delamination on both the top and bottom surfaces of the workpiece. This tool is ideal for applications requiring high surface finish and precision.  Decatur Diamond's Diamond Cut Router Diamond Cut Router The Decatur Diamond Diamond Cut Router is known for its exceptional cutting capabilities and long tool life. With diamond-coated edges, this router offers superior wear resistance and performance when machining abrasive composite materials. It is perfect for high-volume production environments where tool longevity and consistent performance are critical.  Diamond Coated Drills Diamond Coated Drills Decatur Diamond offers a comprehensive line of diamond-coated carbide drills designed for non-ferrous and composite material applications. These drills, available in a variety of geometries and coating thickness options, ensure superior performance and extended tool life. The optimized tool geometries ensure superior performance and extended tool life, making them ideal for drilling precise holes in challenging materials. With diameters ranging from 0.028” to 0.750” (1mm to 12.50mm), including most letter, #, and wire sizes, they are ideal for precision drilling in challenging materials.
Decatur Diamond’s commitment to innovation and quality makes our tools the preferred choice for machining composite materials. With tailored solutions and a focus on reducing operational costs, our high-performance tools help you achieve superior results in your machining processes. HORN’s new high performance coatings IG6 and SG3 are a testaments to engineering expertise in tool manufacturing.  Horn USA Carbide Grade IG6: More performance in the machining of steel and stainless steels. The new coatings are less than 0.005 mm (.0002”) thick and an essential part of modern tool technology. Testing has shown that the new tool coatings extend the service life of carbide tools by over one-thousand percent. IG6 is a copper colored aluminum-titanium-silica nitride (AlSiTiN) coating designed for use in machining materials P and M with grooving inserts type S224 and S229. In conjunction with the carbide substrate, the coating allows for faster material removal rates and significantly extended wear resistance in machining materials P and M. Standard inserts are available from stock.  Horn USA Carbide Grade SG3. The choice for machining hardened steel and difficult-to-machine materials. SG3 is designed for use in titanium and super-alloys as well as turning and grooving applications in hardened materials, up to 58 HRC. The coating can be function in temperatures up to 1,100 degrees Celsus (2,012 degrees Fahrenheit). HORN designed this coating to deliver outstanding performance with materials that are difficult to machine. The advantage of the tool coating have been proven on selected tool systems from HORN. The Supermini® system 105 with SG3 coating is available from stock. In both cases, the IG6 and SG3 coatings are applied in-house, allowing for reduced delivery time. HORN has developed a high level of expertise in coating precision tools since it began in-house coating processes. From five employees in the beginning to more than fifty employees, the aim has always been to create and invest in modern coating technologies for precision cutting tools.
The HORN team was the first in the world to take delivery of HiPIMS systems from CemeCon. The opportunities to develop hard and tough coating with a homogeneous structure has provided this team the flexibility to create advancements that benefit customers who demand precision tools in demanding applications. |
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