ISO grade positioning across 16 carbide brands — 583 grades across 1,075 positioning records — plus 123 cross-referenced pairs from published manufacturer charts. Turning, ISO P and M.
1,075 positioning records, 16 brands, one document: every grade in the reference database that carries a manufacturer-published ISO P or M application-class position, brought together so you are not paging through sixteen separate PDFs to compare one grade.
A positioning row means: the manufacturer positions this grade at this ISO application class. It does not mean two grades listed at the same class are interchangeable. Substrate, coating, edge preparation, and the recommended cutting window still differ between manufacturers, even when the ISO application class matches.
A positioning record is one grade at one ISO application class — a grade that spans several classes contributes several records. This edition has 583 distinct grades across 1,075 ISO positioning records; the difference is range, not duplication.
A cross-referenced pair means: the pairing appears in two or more published cross-reference charts from tooling manufacturers, with no conflicting source found during review. It is a starting point for a process trial — not a guarantee of matching performance.
These charts are published by the manufacturers themselves (for example Ingersoll, Tungaloy) — not by an independent testing body, and manufacturers have a commercial interest in how their own grades are cross-referenced against competitors' grades. That commercial interest is exactly why a process trial is still required before any substitution.
Every cross-referenced pair carries a source count: the number of published cross-reference charts the pairing was found in, with no conflicting chart found during review. It is a count of charts, not a judgment of how independent, reliable, or in agreement those charts are with each other. 123 pairs in this edition, by source count:
| Sources | Pairs |
|---|---|
| 2 | 97 |
| 3 | 26 |
Any substitution drawn from this chart — whether from a shared ISO application class or from a cross-referenced pair — must be validated with a process trial before it is used in production. This document narrows the search for a starting grade. It does not replace the trial.
"Positioning records" counts rows (one grade at one ISO class); "Distinct grades" counts each grade once regardless of how many classes it spans. Brands with fewer than 50 positioning records are flagged limited coverage — shown here, not hidden.
| Brand | Positioning records | Distinct grades | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tungaloy | 116 | 53 | |
| Mitsubishi | 105 | 51 | |
| Sumitomo | 103 | 49 | |
| ISCAR | 97 | 48 | |
| Kennametal | 96 | 55 | |
| Kyocera | 93 | 48 | |
| Seco | 81 | 47 | |
| Sandvik | 79 | 50 | |
| Walter | 66 | 42 | |
| MOLDINO | 62 | 35 | |
| TaeguTec | 61 | 32 | |
| Korloy | 42 | 30 | LIMITED COVERAGE |
| NTK | 25 | 8 | LIMITED COVERAGE |
| Dijet | 19 | 12 | LIMITED COVERAGE |
| Valenite | 19 | 13 | LIMITED COVERAGE |
| Ceratizit | 11 | 10 | LIMITED COVERAGE |
Single-user licence. No redistribution, resale, or republication in any form. Includes 12 months of free updates from the date of purchase. All brand and grade names referenced in this document are trademarks of their respective owners. This document is an independent comparison and is not endorsed by, sponsored by, or affiliated with any manufacturer named within it.
One brand, every ISO class, no card required. Tell us which brand or grade is missing and we will add it.
Thanks — here is your free sample.
Download the Kennametal Carbide Grade Chart (PDF, free sample)Are you overpaying on your inserts? Paste your insert list and get a cost audit in about 30 seconds: cross-brand equivalents at the same ISO application position, and where you are likely overpaying. No signup, no sales call.