Diamond Cutting Tools

A diamond tool company will quite often specialize in the design and manufacture of diamond tools and no other. They may do Natural Diamond tooling, or manufacture Polycrystalline Diamond (PCD) products, or Cubic Boron Nitride (CBN) products. Some tools will be available in PCD and CBN versions, including boring, turning and grooving tools.

Natural diamond products cover a wider range. They include dressing tools, engravers, flycutting faceting (for decorative finishes), lapping chisels, hand held scribes and phono points. Many other tools are manufactured, including sapphire chisels used in retractable scribes in fiber optics, along with the diamond scribes.

If a standard tool won't do the job, specialist companies can manufacture custom parts for use in many applications, including semiconductors. Another, completely unrelated, industry is the world sport of ice-skating. Skate sharpening machines require diamond dressers; the best use hand selected natural diamonds. At times, diamonds can be reset in diamond dressers.

Use and Care of Diamond Cutting Tools

As might be expected, the cutting edges of diamond tools should be protected when not being used. They are easily damaged and not inexpensive to repair. Manufacturers recommend that optical instruments be used during their inspection and setup.

Breaking the diamond cutting edge can be avoided if other objects are not brought in direct contact with it. This includes micrometers and height gauges, so a copper or plastic shim might be used to protect the cutting edge. Low speed and vibration will shorten the life of a diamond cutting tool. High speed and properly maintained machinery will lengthen it.