Hartmetallspitze

Hartmetallspitze is a cutting tip made from cemented carbide, typically tungsten carbide grains bound with a metallic binder such as cobalt. It is used to enhance the performance of tools by providing a hard, wear-resistant cutting edge. The tips are designed to be brazed or clamped onto tool shanks or integrated into indexable inserts.

Composition and properties: Hartmetall consists largely of tungsten carbide grains embedded in a cobalt or nickel binder. The resulting material offers very high hardness, excellent wear resistance, and good hot hardness, allowing cutting at higher speeds and with abrasive materials. Thermal conductivity and strength are substantially greater than many conventional steels, but the material remains relatively brittle, especially under impact or heavy shock loading.

Manufacturing and forms: Hartmetallspitzen are produced by powder metallurgy, where carbide powder is mixed with a binder, pressed into shape, and sintered at high temperatures. The resulting tips can be produced as brazed tips for drill and milling tools or as inserts in standardized shapes that are clamped or indexed in tool bodies. Variants include different grades and grain sizes tailored to specific materials and cutting conditions.

Applications: They are widely used in metalworking and woodworking for drills, milling cutters, turning tools, and saw blades. Hartmetallspitzen excel in cutting hard, abrasive, or high-temperature materials and are valued for long tool life and the ability to sustain high cutting speeds. They are commonly preferred when HSS or coated tools would wear quickly.

Advantages and limitations: Benefits include high hardness, wear resistance, and hot hardness; limitations include brittleness and higher cost. They require proper mounting and avoidance of heavy impact loads to prevent chipping or fracture.