Walter Introduces TigerTec Gold Grades for Enhanced Turning Performance on High-Alloy Steels

Walter, a leading tooling solutions provider, presents its latest TigerTec Gold WKP01G and WPP05G grades, meticulously crafted for optimal performance in turning high-alloy, high-tensile strength steels. According to Walter, these innovative turning inserts have the potential to reduce machining time by an impressive 20% to 30%.

The WKP01G grade is engineered for the finishing of high-tensile steel and cast iron within ISO P01 and K01 workpiece groups, offering the highest cutting speed. The grades showcase a robust substrate for superior flank wear resistance, complemented by a multistage post-treatment process that results in a smooth rake face. This reduces friction and enhances toughness. The sharp cutting edge, paired with a thin chemical vapor deposition (CVD) coating, ensures precise chip breaking, particularly advantageous for finishing operations.

Designed for medium and rough turning of steels at maximum cutting speed, the WPP05G grade features a substrate made of carbide with exceptional hot hardness. This makes the insert suitable for both dry and wet machining, providing optimal crater and flank wear resistance.

Both grades incorporate the advanced TigerTec Gold coating technology. The multilayer, medium-temperature titanium carbo-nitride (MT-TiCN) coating improves the elastic properties of highly aligned crystals, offering enhanced wear resistance. The coating, unlike conventional TiCN coatings, remains firmly attached to the substrate. It improves toughness and boosts resistance to flank face wear. Additionally, the WPP05G grade boasts a highly textured aluminum oxide (Al2O3) coating that minimizes crater wear, potentially increasing tool life by up to 50%, as per Walter’s claims.

Ideal for continuous cutting and occasional interrupted cuts in high-tensile materials (approx. 280-410 HB or 130-200 ksi), these TigerTec Gold grades find applications in large-scale production for automotive and energy industries. Components such as gearboxes, gears, rotor hubs, forged shafts for general mechanical engineering, and wheel sets for the rail industry are among the promising applications.