Solid and Composite Tools

Solid Tools

A Solid Tool is a regular tool for milling and drilling that has no changeable insert. The cutting edge and the shank is one unit and built of the same material. Small tools cannot be designed with exchangeable inserts.

Composite Tools

A Composite Tool is a cutting tool where the cutting edge consists of a separate piece of material, either brazed, welded or clamped on to a separate body. Common materials for tips include tungsten carbide, polycrystalline diamond, and cubic boron nitride.

The advantage of composite tools is that only a small insert of the cutting material is needed to provide the cutting ability. The small size makes manufacturing of the insert easier than making a solid tool of the same material. Also, the tool holder can be made of a less-expensive and tougher material. A tool of this type combines the toughness of the tool holder with the hardness of the insert.