Publié le 27 May 2025
For over 90 years, Caleyron Industries has been designing and manufacturing technical cutting tools for machining professionals: saw-cutters, circular blades, circular knives, 3-cut milling cutters, isosceles milling cutters, conical milling cutters, helical milling cutters... These tools, available in HSS high-speed steel or solid carbide, are offered with a wide range of technical coatings to meet the requirements of every application.
But which cutting tool coating is best suited to your needs? This guide provides concrete answers, depending on the material to be machined and the cutting conditions.
Cutting tools are subject to very high mechanical, thermal and chemical stress: friction, heating, abrasion, oxidation... A suitable surface treatment enables :
The benefits are tangible: fewer machine stoppages, less scrap, greater repeatability, improved productivity.
The choice of coating depends on a number of combined parameters:
It's not just an aesthetic or marketing criterion, but a strategic technical choice.
Steel is the most common material, but also the most varied (soft, hard, pretreated, low-alloy, etc.). For standard applications, TiN (titanium nitride) remains a classic: economical, versatile and wear-resistant.
For demanding conditions (hard steels, dry cutting, high temperatures), choose TiAlN (titanium aluminum nitride) for its resistance to oxidation. For intensive applications, AlTiSiN offers exceptional thermal resistance (>1000°C) and superior wear resistance, even without polishing.
HSS saw-cutters used on abrasive steels will gain in efficiency with an AlCrN coating (very hard, low thermal conductivity, excellent against thermal shock).
Grey or nodular cast iron is highly abrasive. It quickly wears away edges if the tool is not well protected. Two high-performance options:
For complex or high-performance cycles, opt for AlTiSiN.
Stainless steel is difficult to cut: it sticks, heats up quickly and wears away edges. TiAlN is an excellent choice. For hard stainless steels or lubrication-free operations, AlTiSiN performs best.AlCrN is also recommended for intermittent cooling.
Aluminum, copper, brass or bronze are subject to bonding (partial melting on contact with the tool). For this purpose :
Titanium is highly abrasive, not very conductive and very adhesive. For lubricated cutting, CrN is a good compromise. For dry cutting or high-speed machining, AlCrN stands out for its thermal robustness and resistance to wear and bonding.
Choosing the right cutting tool coating is essential for :
At Caleyron Industries, we master the entire chain: manufacturing custom saw-mills, technical coatings, cutting and resharpening. Our experts work with you to adapt each tool to the cutting conditions of your production. We support you with a wide choice of PVD coatings and high-performance surface treatments adapted to your most demanding industrial applications.
Need advice? Contact our team to define the most effective solution.
