High performance milling and gear hobbing by means of cermet tools with a tough (Ti,W,Ta)(C,N)-Co,Ni,W composition

In some applications, the limitations due to heavy interrupted cutting, limit the viable cutting materials to hardmetals and cermets. In the present work we report about the fabrication and lab and field testing of a tough cermet composition. In particular, milling tests with a cermet insert and high speed (up to 550 m/min) gear cutting with a solid cermet hob are discussed. These results with an uncoated cermet provide a good starting point for the development of commercial solid cermet hobs for high speed gear cutting and thus contribute to the broadening of the application field for this tool material.