|
|
|
| PVD-Arc Technology Improves High-Performance Precision Tools |
|
AlTiNmod-coated drills for circuit boards |
The characteristics of modern high-performance tools for the machining of demanding materials are influenced by the material and geometry of the tools and significantly by the tools’ surface. If the tools’ surface is treated and coated, its resistance against wear through abrasion, oxidation, adhesion, chemical reaction, fatigue, and thermal shock can be significantly increased.
To reduce wear for sharp cutting edges, which bring down the machining forces, PVD-coatings are especially suited. Metaplas Ionon, a subsidiary of Sulzer Metco, develops nanocrystalline Saturn coatings for highly demanding machining tasks. | |
|
| These coatings have a very high adhesive strength to the substrate and are highly resistant against oxidation. Additionally, the combination of surface hardness and toughness can be specifically adjusted according to the demands of the application. The AlTiNmod-coatings are very hard, more than 4500 HV, and yet the adhesion to the workpiece is very weak. Therefore, these coatings are not only used for the machining of very hard materials, but increasingly also for nonferrous metals and compound materials. Another characteristic of the Saturn coatings is the increase of the elevated-temperature hardness during the dry high-speed cutting of steel as hard as 62 HRC or the machining of high-temperature alloys. The surface temperature on the interface of workpiece and tool can be as high as 800 °C (1472 °F) during these processes, which causes coherent cubic precipitation that increases the hot hardness of the coating. The coatings can be applied with various types of equipment with the same high quality. Apart from job order coating, Metaplas Ionon offers complete installations for in-house coating of high-precision tools. The available equipment sizes range from compact with a useable volume of 300×350mm (118×138 in.) to larger installations with a useable volume of 660×600mm (260×236 in.). |
| back |
| |
|
|
|
|
|