Carbide Tipped Vs. High Speed Steel Tools

1.Higher speeds and feeds allow more aggressive machining. Carbide
tipped tools hold their cutting edge hardness at the very high machining
temperatures created at high speeds and feeds. High speed steel tools must be run
at lower speeds and feed as their cutting edge softens at a much lower
temperature. 

2.Hold size longer than high speed steel tools. The carbide tip provides exceptional
wear resistance at the cutting edge. 

3.Last longer due to carbide chip forming surface resisting wear as the chip being
formed flows over the tool. Cratering is minimized and the tool's structural
strength is maintained. High speed steel tools crater rapidly and structurally fail
prematurely when machining abrasive materials. 

Carbide Tipped Vs. Solid Carbide

1.Aggressive tools geometries are used on carbide tipped tools. The
tool steel bodies that support the carbide allows aggressive shear, edge and rake
angles without concern for the fragile solid carbide tool body structure. Carbide
tips can be selected on it's cutting ability without concern for it's structural
strength. 

2.Durability of carbide tipped tools exceed solid carbide tools. Hard spots in the
material being machined, inconsistent heat treatment, inadequate holding of
work piece, or inconsistent machine feed rates can cause abnormal crack
generating shock loads in solid carbide cutting tools. These cracks in solid carbide
tools continue from the cutting edge through the complete tool, frequently
shattering the entire tool and ruining the work piece being machined. Cracks in
carbide tipped tools are stopped by the hardened tool steel body. They usually
continue to hold the cracked carbide cutting edge in position, permitting the tool
to finish the cut and often the entire production run or production shift. Carbide
tipped tools inherently generate fewer cracks as the tool steel bodies better absorb
the shock loads that create the initial cracks. 

3.COST of carbide tipped tools is usually substantially less than solid carbide tools.
The costly carbide is only used for the carbide cutting edge while less costly
tough tool steel is used for the shank and body. 

Carbide Tipped VS. Carbide Inserts

1.Initial tooling costs are far lower for carbide tipped tools. 

2.Vibration free brazed carbide tip allows for higher speeds and feeds. Inserts
cannot be securely clamped to avoid all vibration problems. 

3.Inserts are impractical for many operations such as reaming and most drilling.