Decoating and recoating

IHI Ionbond owns specialized methods for the decoating of high-speed steels (HSS) and cemented carbide tools. On HSS tools, the stripping process removes the coating without attacking the tool material or changing the geometry. This process is particularly used on tools dedicated to gear-cutting applications such as hobs and shaper cutters where the tolerance of the produced gears is strictly controlled.

For cemented carbide tools, Ionbond has long experience in fine-tuning decoating processes for both AlTiN and AlCrN-based coatings. The tool surface is hardly impacted and the cutting edge radius is kept intact. As with HSS tools, the stripped tool can be then re-ground and recoated in order to restore the original performance and extend the tool lifetime considerably. This decoating, regrinding and recoating process can be done from 3 to 10 or 12 times depending on the type of tools and application.

Example of a high-speed steel tool surface after use (as received by Ionbond), after stripping (done by Ionbond), after regrinding (done by the customer), after deburring (done by Ionbond) and after the pre-treatment process (done by Ionbond).

Example of a cemented carbide tool surface before coating and after coating plus decoating. The cutting edge radius is not deteriorated.