"Cheap" inserts that *work*

[SouthernChap]

Doh! Well, a link anyway:

ANSI Turning Tool Designations

This table shows the ANSI designations for indexable tool holders for external turning.

www.littlemachineshop.com

Thanks for the heads up!

GsT

No probs.

LMS has some really handy documentation and calculators on their site.

 

[mmcmdl]

Okay, I'm not into insert tooling on the lathe, but I do own it an occasionally use it. One area where I do prefer insert tooling is on certain ops in the mill, like face milling. I stick to Kennametal and Iscar, and they last forever, even on hard interrupted cuts. Since the thread is about cheap inserts, I think price is more about sourcing than brand and origin. I've never bought domestic or tier 1 import inserts (Israel, Sweden) at retail, just NOS in lots or partial boxes as they come up on fleabay. The prices have gone up steeply on those as individuals (and I assume small shops) have turned to eBay as a lower cost alternative to the MSC catalog, so the competition is making it harder to nab popular sizes (I mean you, CCMT), but I'd rather search and pay a price that has a bit of a pinch than deal with cheap inserts that chip and scrap work all to easily. It's so hard to tell one rainbow-colored insert from another when you can neither trust nor verify the quality from lot to lot. With the ISO 9001 major brands, you know what you are getting without surprises.

Geez ! You're gonna need a BIG BOX !

 

[LarryL in Oregon]

Thanks for the chart.

Still having some difficulty figuring out which inserts would fit-- the chart indicates 9 different parameters.
My insert holders have either 2 or 5 parameters.

For the SCLCL 1/2" insert holder, it appears to be
S = screw lock
C = 80 degree diamond shape
L = offset shank with -5 degree end/side cutting angle
C = neutral-- accepts 7 degree clearance inserts
L = left

There are 4 more parameters--

Pocket style-- Is the pocket style the number of walls that hold the insert? S for single pocket, 0 for more than one pocket?
Shank size-- The shank size is 1/2" square, which is an 8.
Insert size IC (inscribed circle?) Is that the size hole through the insert for the screw to hold the insert in the holder? If so, what's the best way to measure this?
Qualified surface and length-- looks like the length of the insert holder, J.

Am I on the right track?
Appreciate your help!
Thanks very much.

Larry

 

[GeneT45]

I didn't actually look at the chart I posted, but now that I do, I see "pocket style" which is different than what I've seen before. Typically I'd expect the positions 5-8 to be handedness, size, IC, and toolholder length. Of those, only IC matters in terms of finding the insert you need.

IC (inscribed circle) is the size of the largest circle that will fit within the outline of the insert. It's not a hard rule, but for a 1/2" shank tool, I'd expect a 3/8" IC insert in a 'C' shape. ISO uses a different size spec that is cutting edge length in mm which may be easier to measure. You can then look up the measured length on a chart that shows both, and see what that means in terms of IC. The ISO spec is dependent on the shape (C), so make sure you're looking at the right column.

GsT