Carbide Tools: Precautions For Use
1. Safety precautions.
In order to prevent injury to persons and damage to property when using hard tool materials and products, the following categories of precautions are to be observed. Please read the precautions in the text carefully and use the product correctly.
■The precautions are classified as follows. All of these are important safety-related details and must be observed.
| Warning | Items which, if handled incorrectly, could result in death or serious injury to the user. |
|---|---|
| Caution | Items which, if handled incorrectly, are likely to cause minor injury to the user or lead to property damage. |
2. Basic characteristics of hard tool materials
2-1 Meaning and use of terms in this brochure
2-1-1 Hard tool materials
General term for tool materials such as cemented carbide, cermet, ceramic, cBN sintered and diamond sintered materials.
2-1-2. Co-based hard tool materials
Hard tool materials containing more than 0.1% Co, e.g. WC-Co cemented carbides, cermets containing Co, cBN sintered bodies, diamond sintered bodies
2-2.Physical properties
2-2-1.Exterior
Varies according to material, e.g. grey, black, gold, etc.
2-2-2.Odour
Odourless.
2-2-3.Hardness, specific gravity
Table 1 shows the hardness and specific gravity of hard tool materials.
Table 1 Hardness and specific gravity of hard tool materials
| Hard tool material | Hardness (HV) | Density |
| Cemented carbide | 500～3000 | 9～16 |
| Cermet | 500～3000 | 5～9 |
| Ceramic | 1000～4000 | 2～7 |
| Sintered cBN | 2000～5000 | 3～5 |
| Diamond sintered body | 8000～12000 | 3～5 |
| (High-speed steel) | 200～1200 | 7～9 |
| (Tool Steel) | 200～1200 | 7～9 |
| ((Electrodeposited diamond)) | 8000～12000 | 3～5 |
| Hard tool material | Hardness (HV) | Density |
| Cemented carbide | 500～3000 | 9～16 |
| Cermet | 500～3000 | 5～9 |
| Ceramic | 1000～4000 | 2～7 |
| Sintered cBN | 2000～5000 | 3～5 |
| Diamond sintered body | 8000～12000 | 3～5 |
| (High-speed steel) | 200～1200 | 7～9 |
| (Tool Steel) | 200～1200 | 7～9 |
| ((Electrodeposited diamond)) | 8000～12000 | 3～5 |
2-2-4.Composition.
W, Ti, Al, Si, Ta, B, V and other carbides, nitrides, carbonitrides and oxides and, in addition to these, Fe, Co, Ni, Cr, Mo and other
3. Safety of hard tool materials
Precautions for handling hard tool materials
・To prevent occupational accidents and occupational illnesses, be sure to observe the "Safety precautions" listed in Table 2.
・Before use, read all these 'Safety Precautions' carefully and follow the instructions to ensure correct use.
・After reading, be sure to store the product in a place where the user can see it at any time.
・To prevent occupational accidents and occupational illnesses, be sure to observe the "Safety precautions" listed in Table 2.
・Before use, read all these 'Safety Precautions' carefully and follow the instructions to ensure correct use.
・After reading, be sure to store the product in a place where the user can see it at any time.
Table 2: Safety of hard tool materials
| Warning. |
|---|
| ➀ Hard tool materials, when very hard, have brittle characteristics and may break or scatter if subjected to excessive tightening or impact. |
| ② Hard tool materials with a specific gravity of 10 or more should be handled as heavy goods in the case of large products or large quantities, and handled with care with regard to their weight. |
| ➂ Cracks may occur if engraving is carried out on hard tool materials with a laser, electric pen, electrodeposition grinding wheel, etc. Do not engrave on workpieces or areas subject to stress. |
| ④ Hard tool materials may have a different coefficient of thermal expansion from general case steel. Design and work should be carried out with sufficient consideration, as they may crack or shatter when used for hardening, cold shimmering or in applications where temperatures are high. |
| ⑤ Hard tool materials may crack when subjected to temperature changes greater than the thermal shock resistance temperature in brazing. If brazing is not carried out at the appropriate brazing temperature, they may fall off or be damaged. Braze under appropriate conditions. |
| ⑥ When repairing hard tool materials once they have been used, cracks and other worn parts caused by use must be sufficiently removed. No independent repairs should be carried out. |
| ⑦ Hard tool materials generate dust and other particles when they are ground. These may be harmful to the body if swallowed or inhaled, so protective equipment such as local exhaust ventilation and protective masks should be used. |
| ⑧ Hard tool materials generate dust, etc. when they are ground. Contact or adhesion of these to the eyes or skin can be dangerous, so use appropriate protective equipment such as protective glasses. |
| ⑨ If grinding dusts, etc. come into contact with skin or eyes, wash them off with water. If a large amount is swallowed or gets into the eyes, seek medical attention immediately. |
| ⑩ Cobalt and its inorganic compounds are designated as specified chemical substances. Tools in normal use are exempted, but in workplaces where physical changes are made (processing of materials, repair of products), they must be handled in accordance with the Regulations on the Prevention of Hazards Due to Specified Chemical Substances (Special Chemicals Regulations). |
| ⑪ For details on first aid measures, measures in case of fire, measures in case of leakage, disposal precautions, etc., see the MSDS of the material and take appropriate action. |
| Caution. |
| ⑫ Hard tool materials that have not been given corrosion resistance may be corroded by grinding fluids, lubricating fluids and other moisture, resulting in a loss of strength. |
| ⑬ When storing hard tool materials for a long period of time, take care to prevent rust and other corrosion depending on the storage environment (e.g. high humidity). |
| ⑭ The strength of hard tool materials may be significantly reduced depending on the surface condition after grinding, so finish them under appropriate machining conditions. |
| ⑮ EDM machining of hard tool materials may cause micro-cracks and affected layers on the surface, resulting in reduced strength, etc. To obtain the original characteristics, micro-cracks and affected layers should be removed by grinding. |
| Warning |
| ⑯Hard tool materials may explode (delayed fracture) during storage or repair after use when used as extra-high pressure tools.
|
4. Precautions for use
The handling precautions common to hard tool materials were mentioned earlier, but as wear-resistant tools, the following further precautions should be observed. The precautions for the use of wear-resistant tools are given in Table 3.
Table 3: Precautions for use of wear-resistant tools
| Wear-resistant tools General | Warning | Counter-measure | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ➀When setting the tool on a machine or device, do not apply an impact load, as this may result in damage or shattering. | ➀Do not subject the tool (insert) to shock loads or localised stresses. | ||
| ② Continued use of the tool in an excessively worn condition is dangerous as fragments of the tool may bite into the workpiece, the workpiece may burn, the tool may break or scatter and injury may result. | ②Repairs and tool changes should be properly set up and planned. Use protective equipment such as safety covers and safety glasses. | ||
| Attention | Counter-measure | ||
| ➂Continued use of the tool in an excessively worn condition is dangerous as components of the tool may enter the workpiece. | ➂Set up tool changes appropriately and systematically. | ||
| Cutting blades Slitters | Warning | Counter-measure | |
| ④Eccentric rotation and imbalance are dangerous as they can cause run-out, vibration, breakage, shattering and injury. | ④Observe the prescribed use instructions. | ||
| Attention | Counter-measure | Counter-measure | |
| ⑤They have sharp cutting edges that can be dangerous as direct hand contact can cause injury. | ⑤Use appropriate protective equipment such as protective gloves. | ⑤Do not use protective equipment such as military gloves or other protective equipment that can get caught near rotating parts. | |
| Other | Attention | Counter-measure | |
| ⑥Repeated brazing is dangerous as the tip is easily damaged during use. | ⑥Do not re-braze and use a new tip. | ||
| ⑦Use of the machine for purposes other than those prescribed is dangerous as it may cause damage to the machine and tools. | ⑦Observe the prescribed use instructions. | ||
| Wear-resistant tools General | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warning | Counter-measure | ||||
| ➀When setting the tool on a machine or device, do not apply an impact load, as this may result in damage or shattering. | ➀Do not subject the tool (insert) to shock loads or localised stresses. | ||||
| ② Continued use of the tool in an excessively worn condition is dangerous as fragments of the tool may bite into the workpiece, the workpiece may burn, the tool may break or scatter and injury may result. | ②Repairs and tool changes should be properly set up and planned. Use protective equipment such as safety covers and safety glasses. | ||||
| Attention | Counter-measure | ||||
| ➂Continued use of the tool in an excessively worn condition is dangerous as components of the tool may enter the workpiece. | ➂Set up tool changes appropriately and systematically. | ||||
| Cutting blades Slitters | |||||
| Warning | Counter-measure | ||||
| ④Eccentric rotation and imbalance are dangerous as they can cause run-out, vibration, breakage, shattering and injury. | ④Observe the prescribed use instructions. | ||||
| Attention | Counter-measure | Counter-measure | |||
| ⑤They have sharp cutting edges that can be dangerous as direct hand contact can cause injury. | ⑤Use appropriate protective equipment such as protective gloves. | ⑤Do not use protective equipment such as military gloves or other protective equipment that can get caught near rotating parts. | |||
| Other | |||||
| Attention | Counter-measure | ||||
| ⑥Repeated brazing is dangerous as the tip is easily damaged during use. | ⑥Do not re-braze and use a new tip. | ||||
| ⑦Use of the machine for purposes other than those prescribed is dangerous as it may cause damage to the machine and tools. | ⑦Observe the prescribed use instructions. | ||||
5.Finally
The contents of this brochure describe basic health and safety items. For other details, please refer to the relevant items on the SDS.
For legal requirements, please refer to the applicable laws and regulations (Industrial Safety and Health Law and PRTR Law). The specifications of wear-resistant tools (tool design and conditions of use) are under the control of the customer unless otherwise agreed. No compensation can be given for accidents, etc., if the tool is used outside the specifications at the time of ordering. If there is a contract, this will depend on it.
(Revised Mar 2020)
For legal requirements, please refer to the applicable laws and regulations (Industrial Safety and Health Law and PRTR Law). The specifications of wear-resistant tools (tool design and conditions of use) are under the control of the customer unless otherwise agreed. No compensation can be given for accidents, etc., if the tool is used outside the specifications at the time of ordering. If there is a contract, this will depend on it.
(Revised Mar 2020)
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