In production hard turning, the right CBN insert is not determined by brazing method alone. Manufacturers also need to consider whether the insert holds up under the intended cutting conditions, how many edges can be used, and what happens when an edge fails or must be changed. UHD’s Integral Brazed CBN Insert Series uses double-sided vacuum integral brazing to join CBN tips to a carbide substrate. The comparison below provides a practical way to evaluate that design against conventional single-sided or high-frequency brazed inserts.
Key distinction: A double-sided design provides usable cutting positions on both faces. Whether it reduces cost per part depends on edge life, application suitability, tool-change time, insert price and the results observed on the machine.
| Evaluation point | UHD double-sided integral brazed design | Conventional brazed design |
|---|---|---|
| Joint and construction | CBN tips joined to a carbide substrate using vacuum integral brazing. | Joint construction varies; the comparison may involve high-frequency or single-sided brazing. |
| Usable faces | Both faces are designed for use, subject to insert geometry and holder compatibility. | A single-sided insert offers cutting positions on one face. |
| Performance to verify | Joint integrity, edge life consistency and performance across usable positions. | The same measures, including any joint-related failures or edge-life variation. |
Construction describes the inserts; it does not, by itself, establish a measured advantage in a particular operation.
Use the same workpiece material and hardness, machine, holder, cutting speed, feed, depth of cut and edge-change criterion for both candidates. If the workpiece has interrupted cuts or the operation places a high load on the insert, include those conditions in the trial rather than relying on a continuous-cut test.
A structural comparison is most useful after the grade has been matched to the cutting task. UHD lists the following options within its integral brazed CBN insert range:
| Grade | Listed material and application fit |
|---|---|
| USN100 | Alloy, gray and ductile cast iron; roughing and semi-finishing in continuous or interrupted cutting. |
| USN200 | Alloy, gray and ductile cast iron; semi-finishing and finishing in continuous cutting. |
| USN650 | Hardened steels, including bearing, die and tool steels; semi-finishing or finishing in continuous cutting. |
Potential applications include automotive components, compressor parts and hardened bearing or gear components. Final suitability still depends on the workpiece and operating conditions.
These inserts are not intended for aluminum or copper alloys, 304 or 316 austenitic stainless steel, or low-carbon mild steel. They are also not recommended for high-precision small-bore finishing or ultra-fine finishing. Strongly interrupted cuts, difficult clamping and unusually demanding cutting parameters call for application-specific review before selection.
Henan UHD Ultrahard Tools Co., Ltd. supports standard insert selection and non-standard tooling discussions. Share the workpiece material and hardness, insert or holder specification, cutting parameters, production volume and current failure pattern. With those details, UHD can help identify a suitable grade and structure to evaluate in a controlled trial.
Tell us your workpiece, quantity, and tooling requirement. Our team will reply with a practical solution.
