What insert should I use for 6061 / 7075 aluminium?

A sharp uncoated or DLC-coated fine-grain carbide with high positive rake and polished flutes; PCD for long runs or abrasive high-silicon alloys. Match the ISO N class across brands and confirm in the advisor.

Why is my aluminium finish poor even at high RPM?

More RPM at the same feed thins the chip until the edge rubs instead of shears, which builds up and smears the finish. Increase the feed per tooth (account for radial chip thinning), keep a sharp polished positive edge, and flush the chips.

What cutting speed for aluminium with carbide?

Very high — roughly Vc 300–1000 m/min with fn 0.05–0.30 mm/rev and good chip evacuation; PCD runs higher. Treat this as a starting band and confirm on a sample part.

How do I stop built-up edge on aluminium?

Keep the chip load up so the edge shears, use a sharp polished positive geometry, and flush with coolant or MQL.

ISO N — Non-Ferrous · N01

N01 — Aluminium (wrought)

Hardness range: ~65 HB. Part of the ISO N — Non-Ferrous group. Non-ferrous metals (aluminium, copper, brass, magnesium) are soft and thermally conductive. Uncoated or DLC-coated fine-grain carbide with high positive rake, sharp edges, and polished flutes prevents built-up-edge. PCD inserts excel in high-volume aluminium production. No TiN/TiAlN coatings — aluminium welds to them.

Material profile — N01

ISO designation: N01 (ISO N — Non-Ferrous)
Material: Aluminium (wrought)
Hardness: ~65 HB
ISO group colour: Non-Ferrous

Tooling guidance — N-group

Group summary: Uncoated or DLC carbide for aluminium. Sharp edges, high positive rake, polished flutes prevent BUE.

Insert selection for 6061 / 7075 wrought aluminium — starting point

ISO application class: N (non-ferrous). Match the insert's ISO class, not the brand name. Sandvik, Kennametal, Iscar, Walter, Seco and Mitsubishi each publish an N-class grade, and PCD inserts exist for long runs and abrasive alloys — pick by ISO class, then confirm the exact grade.
Grade & coating: Uncoated or DLC-coated fine-grain carbide with high positive rake and polished flutes; PCD for long production runs or abrasive high-silicon alloys.
Geometry: Sharp, high positive rake, polished flute, open chipbreaker. Aluminium needs a keen edge to shear rather than rub.
Starting parameters: Very high speed — carbide Vc ≈ 300–1000 m/min, fn ≈ 0.05–0.30 mm/rev, with coolant or MQL to flush chips; PCD runs higher still. Typical starting band — confirm in the advisor or on a sample part.

6061 / 7075 wrought aluminium: what goes wrong, and what to check first

Built-up edge / smeared finish: The finish problem most people blame on the grade. Usually the chip load is too low, so the edge rubs instead of shears. Raise the feed (account for radial chip thinning), use a sharp polished positive edge, and flush with coolant or MQL. See the tool-wear guide.
Poor finish at high RPM: More RPM at the same feed just thins the chip until the edge rubs. Increase feed per tooth, do not only raise speed.
Long gummy chips / bird-nesting: Open the chipbreaker, raise the feed, and use polished flutes with good chip evacuation.
Edge buildup on high-silicon alloys: Silicon is abrasive. For abrasive or high-volume work move to PCD for life.

Reference data

Insert grade index ISO insert-code index CNMG120408 — general turning CCMT09T304 — positive finishing Tool-wear diagnosis

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