Carbide Insert Reference
ISO Insert Designation System
Carbide inserts follow the ANSI/ISO naming standard. A typical designation like CNMG 120408 encodes shape, clearance, tolerance, type, size, thickness, and nose radius in a compact alphanumeric code.
| Position | Code | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 — Shape | C | 80° diamond |
| D | 55° diamond |
| R | Round |
| S | Square (90°) |
| T | Triangle (60°) |
| V | 35° diamond |
| W | 80° trigon |
| 2 — Clearance Angle | N | 0° (negative rake) |
| A | 3° |
| B | 5° |
| C | 7° |
| P | 11° |
| 3 — Tolerance Class | M | ±0.002–0.005" (general purpose) |
| G | ±0.001" (precision ground) |
| 4 — Type / Features | A | With hole, no chipbreaker |
| G | With hole and chipbreaker |
| N | No hole, no chipbreaker |
| T | With hole, one-side chipbreaker |
| 5–6 — IC Size | 12 | Inscribed circle diameter in mm (12 mm) |
| 7–8 — Thickness | 04 | Thickness in mm (4.76 mm) |
| 9–10 — Nose Radius | 08 | Nose radius in 0.1 mm units (0.8 mm = 1/32") |
Insert Shapes
| Code | Shape | Included Angle | Strength | Versatility | Common Use |
|---|
| R | Round | N/A | Highest | Low | Heavy roughing, contouring |
| S | Square | 90° | Very High | Moderate | Roughing, 90° shouldering |
| C | 80° Diamond | 80° | High | High | General turning (most popular) |
| W | 80° Trigon | 80° | High | High | Roughing to semi-finishing |
| T | Triangle | 60° | Moderate | High | General purpose, 3 edges |
| D | 55° Diamond | 55° | Low | Very High | Profiling, finishing, copying |
| V | 35° Diamond | 35° | Lowest | Highest | Finish profiling, tight contours |
Rule of thumb: Stronger shapes (round, square) handle heavy roughing and interrupted cuts. Weaker, more pointed shapes (55°, 35° diamond) allow access to tight contours and produce better surface finishes.
Carbide Grades
| ISO Grade | Color Code | Application |
|---|
| P | Blue | Steel (long-chipping materials) |
| M | Yellow | Stainless steel (work-hardening materials) |
| K | Red | Cast iron (short-chipping materials) |
| N | Green | Non-ferrous metals & aluminum |
| S | Brown | Superalloys & titanium (heat-resistant alloys) |
| H | Gray | Hardened steel (≥45 HRC) |
P-Grade Sub-Classifications
| Sub-Grade | Application | Characteristics |
|---|
| P10 | High-speed finishing | Hard, wear-resistant; light cuts at high speed |
| P20 | Medium turning | Balanced toughness and wear resistance; general purpose |
| P30 | Heavy roughing | Tough; heavy cuts, interrupted cuts, poor conditions |
Chipbreaker Styles
| Type | Application | DOC Range |
|---|
| F / FN | Finishing — light cuts, good surface finish | 0.004–0.020" |
| M / MN | Medium — general-purpose turning | 0.020–0.100" |
| R / RN | Roughing — heavy material removal | 0.060–0.200"+ |
Manufacturer Cross-Reference
Steel Turning (P20 Equivalent)
| ISO Designation | Sandvik | Kennametal | Mitsubishi | Kyocera | Chinese Generic |
|---|
| P10 | GC4315 | KC5010 | UE6110 | CA6515 | YBC251 |
| P20 | GC4325 | KC5025 | UE6020 | CA6525 | YBC252 |
| P30 | GC4335 | KC5035 | UE6035 | CA6535 | YBC351 |
Stainless Steel (M Grade)
| ISO Designation | Sandvik | Kennametal | Mitsubishi | Kyocera | Chinese Generic |
|---|
| M20 | GC2220 | KC725M | US735 | PR1225 | YBC302 |
| M30 | GC2230 | KC730 | US7020 | PR1535 | YBC352 |
Aluminum / Non-Ferrous (N Grade)
| ISO Designation | Sandvik | Kennametal | Mitsubishi | Kyocera | Chinese Generic |
|---|
| N10–N20 | H13A | KC510M | HTi10 | KW10 | YNG151 |
Common Insert Sizes
| ANSI Code | IC (mm) | IC (in) | Thickness (mm) |
|---|
| CCMT/CCGT 0602 | 6.35 | 0.250" | 2.38 |
| CCMT/CCGT 09T3 | 9.525 | 0.375" | 3.97 |
| CCMT/CCGT 1204 | 12.70 | 0.500" | 4.76 |
| DCMT/DCGT 0702 | 7.94 | 0.3125" | 2.38 |
| DCMT/DCGT 11T3 | 9.525 | 0.375" | 3.97 |
| TNMG 1604 | 9.525 | 0.375" | 4.76 |
| TNMG 2204 | 12.70 | 0.500" | 4.76 |
| CNMG 1204 | 12.70 | 0.500" | 4.76 |
| CNMG 1606 | 15.875 | 0.625" | 6.35 |
| WNMG 0604 | 12.70 | 0.500" | 4.76 |
| WNMG 0804 | 12.70 | 0.500" | 4.76 |
| SNMG 1204 | 12.70 | 0.500" | 4.76 |
Disclaimer
The content on this page is provided for educational and quick-reference purposes only. It is not a substitute for manufacturer specifications, tooling documentation, or professional machining guidance. Always verify feeds, speeds, and tooling recommendations for your specific setup, machine, and material before machining. machref.com makes no warranty regarding the accuracy or completeness of this information. See our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Accessibility Statement.