SUMITOMO AC6000M Stainless Steel Turning Guide

Decision Tree for Chip Groove Selection and Troubleshooting

The AC6000M series offers a wide range of chip breaker options, including EEF, ESU, EEX, EUP, EEG, EGU, EEH, and EEM. Engineers can select models based on processing conditions and fault phenomena according to the following decision tree.

Main chip breaker: EGU and EEG

EGU is a universal preferred chip breaker with balanced chip control and wear resistance, suitable for most stainless steel turning conditions. EEG is a wear-resistant chip breaker that strikes a balance between wide range chip control and wear resistance, suitable for medium cutting. When the processing is stable and there are no special faults, EGU or EEG should be preferred.

Fault 1: Poor chip elongation or breakage

When chip elongation and poor chip breakage occur during small deep cutting, choose EEF chip breaking groove. EEF is designed specifically for precision machining and has excellent chip breaking ability at small cutting depths. If it is necessary to reduce cutting force at the same time, ESU chip breaker can be chosen, which has a small cutting depth and high feed design to suppress cutting resistance.

Fault 2: Rapid wear or insufficient sharpness of the cutting edge

When there is rapid wear and insufficient sharpness of the cutting edge during processing, choose EEX chip breaker groove. EEX adopts a standard shape, emphasizing the sharpness of cutting edges, suitable for light to medium cutting. If there is excessive resistance in areas with large cutting depth and high feed rate, choose EUP chip breaker groove, whose double positive angle shape can reduce cutting resistance.

Fault 3: Short tool life for high load machining

When the tool life is insufficient during high load machining, choose EEH chip breaker. EEH is designed specifically for intermittent machining, emphasizing machining stability and is the preferred recommendation for intermittent machining. If rapid fracture occurs, choose EEM chip breaker groove, which has the highest cutting edge strength with its large cutting depth and high feed design, balancing wear resistance and anti chipping performance.

Summary of Recommended Cutting Conditions

Based on the workpiece material and application conditions, the AC6000M series provides a recommended range of cutting conditions. The following is a summary of key materials.

Ferritic stainless steel (405, 410L, 430, etc.)

For precision machining and continuous cutting, it is recommended to use AC6020M with EEF/ESU, with a cutting depth of 0.020-0.079 inches, a feed rate of 0.002-0.010 IPR, and a speed of 558-984 SFM. Light intermittent and interrupted continuous recommended AC6030M with EEG/EGU/EEX, cutting depth of 0.039-0.157 inches, feed rate of 0.004-0.016 IPR, speed of 459-820 SFM. We recommend using AC6145M with EEH/EEM for heavy intermittent cutting, with a cutting depth of 0.059-0.236 inches, a feed rate of 0.010-0.024 IPR, and a speed of 328-525 SFM.

Martensitic stainless steel (410, 420J2, 440C, etc.)

For precision machining, it is recommended to use AC6020M in conjunction with EEF/ESU, with a speed of 394-787 SFM. Continuous and light intermittent recommended AC6030M with EEG/EGU/EEX, speed 328-656 SFM. Interruption and continuation recommendation: AC6135M with EGU/EEH, speed 262-591 SFM. We recommend using AC6145M in conjunction with EEH/EEM, with a speed of 197-459 SFM.

Austenitic stainless steel (304, 316, 321, etc.)

We recommend using AC6030M with EEF/ESU/EEX for precision machining, with speeds ranging from 394-787 SFM. Continuous and light intermittent recommended AC6135M with EEG/EGU, speed 328-656 SFM. Interruption and continuation recommendation: AC6135M with EGU/EEH, speed 262-591 SFM. We recommend using AC6145M in conjunction with EEH/EEM, with a speed of 197-459 SFM.

duplex stainless steel

We recommend using AC6030M with EEF/ESU/EEX for precision machining, with a speed of 328-591 SFM. Continuous and light intermittent recommended AC6135M with EEG/EGU, speed 262-525 SFM. Interruption continuation recommendation: AC6135M with EGU/EEH, speed 230-459 SFM. We recommend using AC6145M in conjunction with EEH/EEM for heavy interruptions, with speeds ranging from 164-394 SFM.

Precipitation hardening stainless steel

We recommend using AC6020M with EEF/ESU for precision machining, with a speed of 295-459 SFM. Continuous and light intermittent recommended AC6030M with EEG/EGU/EEX, speed 230-427 SFM. Interruption and continuation recommend AC6135M in combination with EGU/EEH, with a speed of 164-394 SFM. We recommend using AC6145M in conjunction with EEH/EEM for heavy interruptions, with speeds ranging from 131-328 SFM.

Practical case verification

The following case demonstrates the actual performance of the AC6000M series in the processing of different stainless steel parts.

316 component processing

Continuous machining using CNMG432EGU (AC6020M) with cutting parameters of vc=590 SFM, f=. 010 IPR, ap=. 118 inches, wet cutting. AC6020M exhibits excellent wear resistance, with a tool life three times that of conventional M20 tools. After processing 3 pieces, the cutting edge of AC6020M remained intact, while conventional tools showed significant wear after only processing 1 piece.