Strong enough for use on titanium, stainless steel, and other tough metals, a PVD coating keeps these inserts sharp for longer than inserts with a CVD coating. Also known as Swiss lathe tools, they’re designed for use in precision lathes. Install them into a matching holder.

These inserts are meant for semi-interrupted cutting conditions. As the most common insert type, they often machine imperfectly round workpieces, like shafts with a keyway. They also have a positive rake, which means they stick out in front of the holder to reach tight spaces on your workpiece. However, they don’t last as long as negative rake inserts because they have cutting edges on only one side. Since these inserts have a 0° lead angle, or a neutral cut direction, they can cut from either right to left or left to right.

Inserts with a larger nose angle and tip radius remove more material with each pass but cut less precisely than smaller inserts. Select the insert with the largest nose angle and tip radius that will turn your workpiece to the desired shape.