Aurora X Plus Cutting Tools

Expanding the capacity for AuroraX™ Plus in North America

At Madison Heights and Duncan, coatings for cutting tools are an important specialization. The centers coat hundreds of thousands of round-shank tools and gear-cutting tools annually.

AuroraX Plus is Ionbond’s premium coating for versatile machining performance in both wet and dry conditions. It offers proven improved tool lifetime, especially for machining of difficult-to-cut materials. These materials are what enables many important innovations, and are increasingly desired for advanced component design in various industrial sectors.

The coating has an optimized stress profile, exhibits high hardness and toughness as well as outstanding oxidation resistance, low thermal conductivity and improved anti-stick characteristics. This allows it to withstand the extremely demanding cutting conditions during hard material machining, including interrupted machining, while enabling efficient chip evacuation. The exceptional abrasion and erosion wear resistance and high hot-hardness of AuroraX Plus makes it suitable at cutting temperatures above 1100°C.

Ionbond Logo 2020 RGB
Aurora X Plus Inserts Hub Stickblades
This is a game-changing coating for the cutting tool industry

“We are proud to have implemented our AuroraX Plus coating in Madison Heights already, and to address the increasing demand by expanding that capability to Duncan. Now we can offer it to more of our most demanding clients.”

Kalpak Shaha

Dr. Kalpak Shaha

Global Segment Manager Cutting Tools

Cutting Tools Non ferrous ISO N

Supporting the demand for machining non-ferrous materials

Ionbond is also investing in increased capacity for coatings for non-ferrous materials. There is a wide spectrum of these materials, and some are increasingly important for many markets. Ionbond’s Tetrabond Plus is an ultrahard ta-C (tetrahedral carbon) coating with an extremely smooth surface and an extremely low affinity towards  non-ferrous materials. Jim South, Sales Manager for cutting tools, says: “We are very happy to offer this widely applicable coating in higher capacity from our USA coating plants, to support the growing demand.”

Non-ferrous materials are extensively used in manufacturing applications in multiple industrial sectors, such as aerospace, automotive, etc. One of the main issues of machining most non-ferrous metals is thermal softening, which causes the material to stick to the cutting edge. This increases tool wear and deteriorates performance.

To boost tool performance and lifetime, Ionbond offers this coating for its high hardness, low coefficient of friction, and strong adhesion, plus a high non-stick factor. The thin and ultra smooth coating maintains the sharpness of the cutting edge, which is critical  for machining non-ferrous materials. Tetrabond Plus can also be applied to HSS, cemented carbide and brazed tools, regardless of geometry, and supports tool resharpening and recoating. It is available in a rainbow version and a general version. A thick version can also be used as alternative to CVD diamond coatings for machining composite materials.

Ionbond CVD 29 tool Kopie

Expanding CVD capability in Cleveland

Ionbond Cleveland serves all of North and Latin America with chemical vapor deposition (CVD) coatings for cutting, turning and milling tools for extreme-load machining of steel and cast iron. These thick coatings have a thermo-dynamically stable structure, optimum stress, extremely high thermal stability, high toughness and extraordinary wear resistance, making them ideal for high-volume machining. Ionbond’s Al2O3-based coatings have well-defined and specifically selected growth of α-Al2O3 crystal orientations, giving them exceptional hot-hardness and very low thermal conductivity. This significantly increases tool lifetime during turning and milling applications.

Pranav Deshpande, Plant Manager at Ionbond Cleveland, says: “We’re expanding our CVD capability at Cleveland with a state-of-the art technology, to be installed late 2024. This new addition has us all feeling very enthusiastic, allowing us to offer our premium CVD coatings to customers with demanding requirements. This coating technology is not commonly available in the Americas, so we are proud to have the capacity to serve customers from all over the region.

Coating Services

Staying ready for the future

These ongoing investments reflect Ionbond’s strategy to be ready for the increased technical requirements from our customers. The shift to lightweight materials such as aluminum alloys, high-strength steels, non-ferrous materials and advanced materials with high hardness is continuing. So is the growing popularity of dry machining, which is a more sustainable manufacturing technology that requires no lubricants.

The increased availability of our AuroraX Plus coating is an important way we support our customers in these trends, since it is tested for its high thermal stability, making it a good choice for both wet and dry machining applications. The same is true for our expanding capacity for Tetrabond Plus, keeping up with the rise of non-ferrous materials, such as aluminum alloys, carbon-reinforced plastics and copper alloys –  important materials for the manufacturing of electric vehicles.

IMTS2024

See you at IMTS?

As in the past 14 years, we will of course be attending IMTS. We’ll be there from 9-14 September, ready to discuss these exciting developments and what we can do for your specific applications. Do drop by our booth 432283! We’d love to see you.

Get in touch

Discuss your challenges with Kalpak Shaha

Dr. Kalpak Shaha, Global Segment Manager Cutting Tools, will be glad to support you.

We will get back to you as soon as possible

Kalpak Shaha

Dr. Kalpak Shaha

Global Segment Manager Cutting Tools

You might be interested...

Coatings
Ionbond Whitepaper AC Hydrogen Applications 2024 No Text

New! Whitepaper on coating development for a hydrogen application

We are proud to present our whitepaper on developing coating solutions for components used in hydrogen, for instance in a hydrogen internal combustion engine. This is a lesser-known application of hydrogen technology for mobility – compared to the more well-known hydrogen fuel cells – yet with strong potential for specific applications such as long haul trucks and heavy duty construction vehicles. The whitepaper is available for download now! Let’s start with a little preview of what it covers.

Read more
Coatings
World Globe

Ionbond’s technological developments in cutting tool coatings in the USA

We’ve got several interesting pieces of news for cutting tool manufacturers in North and Latin America! With new technology in the Ionbond coating center in Duncan (South Carolina), it will be the second USA coating center after Madison Heights (Michigan) to offer the recently developed universal AuroraX Plus coating. In addition, both coating centers offer many of the other Ionbond Premium Plus PVD coatings, such as Tetrabond Plus, Hardcut Plus, Crosscut Plus and Maximizer Plus. Finally our coating center in Cleveland (Ohio) is expanding capacity with the installation of state-of-the-art CVD technology by the end of 2024.

Read more
Coatings
Duplex Coatings Web Banner

Join the Ionbond Summer School about Duplex Coatings

We are excited to launch the first Ionbond Summer School program on Duplex Coatings. Discover and learn more about how to boost the performance of your forming application with duplex coatings and plasma nitriding in 5 insightfull lessons.

Read more
Coatings
Environmental awareness

PVD coating solutions for hard chrome and PFAS replacement

Looking for non-toxic alternatives for hard chrome plating and PTFE coatings?

So have we! At Ionbond, we have developed PVD recipes that can provide a viable alternative to these common coatings, even in highly regulated industries like the aerospace sector. Sounds interesting? Read our article and let’s meet up at the Farnborough International Airshow to discuss your application.

Read more
Coatings
Turbine blades gradient

Ionbond's Advanced Coating Solutions for the Aerospace Industry

As a leader in surface enhancement technology, Ionbond continues to set benchmarks in the aerospace sector with its innovative coating solutions. Our participation in prominent events such as the Farnborough International Airshow underscores our commitment to advancing aerospace technology.

Read more
Coatings
Ionbond new whitepaper deco low temp

NEW Whitepaper: Decorative PVD Coatings for low temperature on plastics

In the realm of product manufacturing, the quest for both aesthetic appeal and durability often leads to a common dilemma: how to make plastic components look more luxurious and stand up to the rigours of daily use. This is where the innovative use of Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) coatings offers a solution that enhances both the visual and functional quality of plastic parts across various industries.

Read more
Service Centers
Plant exterior front 2

Ionbond Sweden opens new, high-capacity coating center

Ionbond Sweden is opening a state-of-the-art coating centre. The new facility will triple the company's floor space and boost production capacity, enabling to better serve various sectors, including cutting, forming, automotive, decorative, and industrial components. The new plant is carbon-neutral and is 100% renewable energy-powered. It is the result of the company’s commitment to growth and sustainability. Ionbond Sweden is now ready to take on larger orders, further solidifying its reputation as a dependable global partner for high-quality coating solutions.

Read more
Coatings
Tetrabond 48 trimming dies

Performance boost in aluminum forming: enabling cost-effective trimming of aluminum with Tetrabond™ (ta-C)

For companies in sheet metal forming, the generation of burrs and slivers is an ongoing challenge, especially when it comes to forming aluminum alloys. Burrs and slivers can reduce the final product quality and are costly to remove, which drives the search for solutions that prevent them from forming. Ionbond’s solution for this challenge is our Tetrabond tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C) coating – a thin, extremely hard coating with a smooth surface and low sticking.

Read more
Coatings
Dulliken charge

Ionbond: high-tech coatings for luxury accessories available throughout Europe

Ionbond has been a leader in high-performance coatings for decades, for both technical applications and the luxury segment. In luxury products, we have especially earned a name for ourselves in beautiful, durable and high-quality coatings for watches, serving top brands. Today, this know-how has been extended to high-end accessories.

Read more
Coatings
Cutting Tools coating solutions | Ionbond

Ionbond’s coating solution for machining of non-ferrous materials for EU manufacturing industry

Are you looking to increase the performance of your cutting tools for machining non-ferrous materials? Ionbond has a coating solution that helps combat built-up edges, abrasive wear and more. It was designed specifically to allow you to make use of the great material properties of these materials, while increasing manufacturing efficiency.

Read more
Service Centers
Decorative automotive coating solutions | Ionbond

Major capacity increases at Ionbond Greensboro

Good news for customers in the USA and Canada: Ionbond has invested in its facility in Greensboro, doubling its capacity for decorative PVD coatings. The new machines not only increased the plant's overall coating capacity, but also its coating portfolio, including the color selection of decorative coatings.

Read more
Service Centers
Cutting Tools Non ferrous ISO N

Ionbond Germany now offers Tetrabond™ Plus

Tetrabond® Plus is now offered at Ionbond Germany's Saxony facility. This tool coating is ideal for machining non-ferrous materials, including aluminum alloys, copper alloys, plastics, and composite materials, making it particularly valuable for applications in the aerospace and automotive industries.

Read more
Service Centers
Rockaway Team DLC Hybrid Machine

Ionbond Rockaway enhances DLC coating capacity to support growing medical instrument industry

With the addition of a cutting-edge Hauzer 1200 PVD/PACVD hybrid tool, we're geared up to meet the soaring demand for quick turnaround times from our surgical instrument clients.

Read more
Coatings
Industrial components coating solutions | Ionbond

Tribobond™ 51/52/54 – Wear resistance for highly corrosive environments

Modern machinery, with its intricate demands for precision and reliability amid cost pressures, faces challenges. Coatings that provide both corrosion and wear protection are scarce. Read on for insights into innovative solutions addressing this critical gap.

Read more
Coatings
Decorative automotive coating solutions | Ionbond

Ionbond PVD coatings for automotive interior applications

Are you looking to stand out in automotive interior design with novel colors and increased wear resistance of design elements? Check out Ionbond’s expertise in PVD coatings at the Automotive Interiors Expo Novi from 24-26 October and find out more in below article.

Read more