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.
Selection table: wrought aluminium (6061 / 7075)
| Operation | Geometry | ISO class | Coating family | Coolant | First check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roughing | Sharp, high positive rake, polished flute, open chipbreaker | N (N-class grade) | Uncoated or DLC-coated fine-grain carbide; PCD for long runs | Coolant or MQL to flush chips | Chip evacuation: open chipbreaker, polished flutes |
| Finishing | Sharp, high positive rake, polished flute | N (N-class grade) | Uncoated or DLC-coated carbide; PCD for abrasive alloys | Coolant or MQL | Built-up edge: raise feed per tooth, do not only raise speed |
| Interrupted cut | Sharp positive edge, open chipbreaker | N (N-class grade) | Uncoated or DLC-coated carbide | Coolant or MQL | Chip load too low makes the edge rub instead of shear |
| Low rigidity / thin wall | Keen edge to shear rather than rub | N (N-class grade) | Uncoated or DLC-coated carbide | Coolant or MQL | Feed per tooth against radial chip thinning |
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
Frequently asked questions
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.
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Grade designations in this group
Each page cross-references the EN, Werkstoffnummer, AISI/UNS and JIS designations for one material, with the ISO machining group it falls in.
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