b'Walter USATiger-tec Goldinserts are displayed in a facemilling application.when ceramic is used on heat-resistant alloys, Howard said it is critical to define a toolpath that does not come off the part, because tool life can decrease by 3% if the insert leaves the part.Although ceramic tooling has a reputation for being brittle, he said that is changing.The new grades that we manufacture are tougher, Howard said, so the edge can be sharper. Only a honed edge can be used on positive-rake designs, and this is a significant advantage in that it disperses heat. This is especially important in facemilling, which has today become largely a finishing process.Evolving Materials Demand Specific ApproachesWhere new materials are concerned, customer de-mand for tooling can vary widely.The aerospace industry demands a very high removal rate for titanium and Inconel, Pollock said. Only about 5% of the average workpiece results in a finished part; 90% goes off in chips. We call that the buy-to-fly ratio.In other instances, especially when a manufacturer has developed a proprietary material, the expense war-rants a more conservative approach.ctemag.com/cteguide.com31Facemilling.indd 31 7/19/21 11:13 AM'