What does VNMG160404 mean? Every position of the ISO 1832 code, decoded
VNMG160404 is not a part number, it is a sentence. Four letters describe the insert — shape, clearance, tolerance, fixing and chipbreaker — and the number block 160404 gives its size, thickness and nose radius. Decoded below, position by position.
- V — shape
- 35° rhombic (diamond) · a fine-profiling shape: the 35° tip reaches tight detail no other common shape can, but it is the weakest corner in the drawer
- N — clearance angle
- relief angle 0° (negative insert, double-sided use possible)
- M — tolerance
- class M — molded, medium tolerance on inscribed circle and corner point (typically ±0.05–0.13 mm depending on size)
- G — type
- cylindrical fixing hole, chipbreaker on both faces (double-sided insert)
- 16 — size
- size class 16 — nominal cutting-edge length class in mm; the exact edge length and inscribed circle depend on the shape, see a catalog drawing
- 04 — thickness
- insert thickness 4.76 mm
- 04 — corner radius
- Rε = 0.4 mm nose radius
| Shape | 35° rhombic (diamond) |
| Insert style | Negative, double-sided |
| Usable edges | 4 (typical, 2 corners × 2 faces) |
| Thickness | 4.76 mm |
| Nose radius | 0.4 mm |
| Size class | 16 (nominal cutting-edge length class, mm — exact dimensions depend on shape) |
Negative or positive — what position 2 commits you to
The N in position 2 means 0° clearance: a negative insert. Combined with the G type it is double-sided, so both faces carry cutting corners — 4 usable edges per insert. Negative inserts are the strongest option but push harder into the cut; the holder tilts them to create clearance.
The 0.4 mm nose radius in practice
The final 04 is the nose radius in hundredths of a millimetre: 0.4 mm — a finishing-side radius: low radial force, good for slender parts and fine profiles, at the cost of a weaker corner. Surface roughness scales with feed² over radius, so radius choice sets your feed ceiling for a given finish.
One honest caveat: this page decodes the geometry. Which carbide grade, coating and chipbreaker to run on it is a separate decision that depends on your material and cut — the code alone cannot answer it. Dimensions here are nominal ISO classes; verify exact edge length against a maker's catalog drawing.
Frequently asked questions
What does VNMG160404 mean on a turning insert?
VNMG160404 is an ISO 1832 designation. V = 35° rhombic (diamond) shape. N = 0° (negative insert, double-sided use possible) clearance. M = tolerance class M. G = cylindrical fixing hole, chipbreaker on both faces (double-sided insert). 16 = size class 16 (nominal cutting-edge length class in mm; exact dimensions depend on the shape). 04 = 4.76 mm thickness. 04 = 0.4 mm nose radius.
Is VNMG160404 a positive or negative insert?
Negative. The N in position 2 means 0° clearance; the insert is double-sided with 4 usable edges. Strongest construction, highest cutting forces.
What do the numbers 160404 mean on VNMG160404?
Three pairs: 16 is the size class (nominal cutting-edge length class in mm), 04 is the thickness (4.76 mm), and 04 is the nose radius (0.4 mm). Exact edge length and inscribed circle depend on the shape — verify against a maker's catalog drawing.
What is VNMG160404 in ANSI (inch) designation?
VNMG 331. US catalogs use the ANSI B212.4 inch system: the size digit is the inscribed circle in eighths of an inch, the thickness digit is sixteenths, the radius digit is sixty-fourths. VNMG160404 and VNMG 331 describe the same insert geometry in two systems.
Cross-reference Browse designations with verified cross-brand grade tables →
| VNMG160404 (ISO 1832) | = VNMG 331 (ANSI B212.4) |
| Same insert geometry, two designation systems: the ANSI size digit is the inscribed circle in eighths of an inch, thickness in sixteenths, nose radius in sixty-fourths. US catalogs and forums use the inch code. | |
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