We have 12 Swiss machines (Nomura) from 13mm to 20mm and we use a 35 Deg diamond (.008R) tool as a primary front turning/profiling tool because it also allows us to chamfer up to 55 Deg on the back edge of features/parts. We have traditionally used Stellram (now Kennametal) VCGT 13032-62 SP4019 inserts. These inserts have worked well for us but they are becoming hard to get. We use the same inserts across all the machines with just a different shank size toolholder on the larger machines. This is a 5/16 IC insert and is not as common as 1/4 and 3/8 but it will still go into a 3/8 (10mm) toolholder as well as a 1/2 (12mm) toolholder and has a .512 long cutting edge for deep cuts. I have found Denitool makes inserts in this size but I have no experience with their inserts. Does anyone use Denitool inserts and if so what grade and geometry? What is your experience with their inserts? If you use another tool for most front turning and profiling work what and whose inserts do you use? We run most of our 303SS programs in the 400 - 450 sfm range with .0008 to .0012 ipr using the Stellram inserts above. We run approximately 90% 303SS from .156 to .812 dia. and Hangsterfer's HC5518 oil.
Other tools we use a lot:
ISCAR SCIR 22-BR10-05K7, SWISS BACK TURN INSERT GRADE IC1008
ISCAR DGR2200JS-6D DO GRIP .087W X .001R X 6 DEG RH IC328 part off tool
Kaiser ThinBit grooving and threading tools - various widths
Quick LA/KF cut style knurling tools - we have to diamond knurl a lot of 1/2" parts
We are self taught and are probably doing a lot of things wrong so would very much appreciate your experience/knowledge.