End mills and drill bits are essential tools for machining custom components, but they can also wear down due to the stress of high speed machining. Using carbide end mills can help to provide a longer tool life, but time and heat will wear down the cutting edges on any tool. If you are looking for tools that will last longer, you need to invest in TiAlN coated end mills.

TiAlN, also known as titanium aluminum nitride, is a compound that is deposited on end mills and other cutting tools to help protect them from the strain of high heat applications. TiAlN is applied to tools using physical vapor deposition. This process vaporizes the coating substance and redeposits it on the tool’s surface. The result is a coating of TiAlN that is only 1 to 7 microns thick and perfectly bonded to the cutting surface.

Under normal conditions, high speed machining causes a lot of heat to build up on a tool’s cutting edges. TiAlN helps to increase the thermal stability of end mills by deflecting some of that heat away from the cutting edges. When exposed to high heat and air, TiAlN creates a thin aluminum oxide layer that helps to insulate the end mill. Not only does this help to protect the cutting edges of end mills, but it also helps to deflect heat away and into the chips. This makes these tools ideals for high speed machining.

In addition to protecting the end mill from heat, TiAlN is also a remarkably hard substance. Adding a thin coating of this material to the cutting surface of an end mill is a great way to provide some extra structural integrity to your tools. This will help to keep your edges sharper for longer.

Another interesting trait of this material is the fact that the longer you use your TiAlN coated end mills, the stronger their protective coating becomes. This is an effect known as age hardening. Despite its name, the age hardening process is impacted by how many heat cycles the tools undergo, not the time since they were first coated. As the tools are heated, the TiAlN coating breaks down in AlN and TiN, arranging itself in a manner that helps to increase its structural stability. This helps your cutting tools stay sharper for even longer periods of time.

If you are looking for TiAlN coated end mills for your shop, you need to take a look at the tools offered by Online Carbide. They offer a wide range of drill bits and end mills constructed from high quality carbide tool stock and many of their tools are available with a TiAlN coating. With an inventory that includes end mills, thread mills, drill mills, center drills, drill bits, and more, you are sure to find whatever your shop needs when you visit www.OnlineCarbide.com. If you have any questions about the tools they offer, feel free to contact a member of their team by sending an email to [email protected].