CVD Diamond Coating
National Diamond Tool & Coating manufactures standard and custom CVD diamond coated cutting tools for machining non-ferrous metals, composites, graphite, and other abrasive materials.
Our coating capabilities include true crystalline diamond coatings and Diamond Like Coating (DLC), available in multiple grades to accommodate different machining applications.
We manufacture diamond coated end mills, drills, reamers, inserts, and custom cutting tools to meet specific machining requirements.
What Is CVD Diamond Coating?
Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) is a process used to deposit a layer of synthetic diamond onto a specially prepared carbide substrate.
Unlike electroplated diamond grit coatings, which use individual abrasive particles bonded to a tool surface, CVD diamond coating forms a continuous crystalline diamond layer.
The resulting coating provides exceptional hardness and abrasion resistance, making it particularly effective when machining materials that cause rapid wear on conventional carbide tooling.
CVD diamond coated tools are commonly used in applications involving graphite, composites, high-silicon aluminum, and other abrasive materials.
True Diamond Coating vs. Diamond Like Coating (DLC)
National Diamond Tool & Coating offers both true diamond and Diamond Like Carbon coatings.
Although these coatings share certain properties, they differ in structure, thickness, and intended applications.
True Diamond Coating
True CVD diamond coating consists of a crystalline diamond structure deposited onto specially selected carbide substrates.
This coating provides exceptional abrasion resistance and extended tool life in demanding machining applications.
Features:
True crystalline diamond structure
Exceptional hardness and abrasion resistance
Available in multiple coating thicknesses
Applied to specially selected carbide grades
Suitable for highly abrasive materials
No minimum order quantity for true diamond coating
Common Applications:
Graphite, carbon, composites, green carbide, green ceramics, and other abrasive materials.
Diamond Like Coating (DLC)
Diamond Like Coating (DLC) is a noncrystalline, carbon-based coating that provides wear resistance at a lower coating thickness.
DLC can be applied to a wider range of carbide substrates and provides an economical alternative for applications that do not require a thick crystalline diamond coating.
Features:
Noncrystalline carbon-based coating
Thin coating layer
Compatible with many carbide grades
Economical coating option
Minimum order quantities apply
Common Applications:
Aluminum, copper, brass, bronze, abrasive plastics, carbon fiber composites, and other non-ferrous materials.
Available Diamond Coating Grades
National Diamond Tool & Coating offers three coating grades with different thicknesses and performance characteristics.
Tool life improvements are approximate comparisons with conventional uncoated carbide tooling and depend on the workpiece material, tool geometry, and machining conditions.
| Coating Grade | Coating Thickness | Microhardness | Tool Life Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| ND15 (True Diamond) | 12–15 µm | 10,000 | 20–50× |
| ND10 (True Diamond) | 8–10 µm | 10,000 | 20–30× |
| ND5 (DLC) | 1–3 µm | 5,000–8,000 | 6–8× |
CVD Diamond Coated Cutting Tools
We manufacture standard and custom diamond coated cutting tools for a variety of machining operations.
CVD Diamond Coated End Mills
Diamond coated end mills are commonly used for milling graphite, composites, and abrasive non-ferrous materials.
Available in multiple cutting diameters, flute configurations, and cutting geometries, including square and ball nose designs.
CVD Diamond Coated Drills
Diamond coated drills provide improved abrasion resistance when drilling abrasive materials such as graphite, fiberglass, and composites.
Custom drill diameters, lengths, and point geometries are available for specific applications.
Diamond Coated Reamers
Diamond coated reamers are used for precision hole finishing in suitable non-ferrous and abrasive materials.
Diamond Coated Inserts
Diamond coated carbide inserts are available for turning and other machining applications requiring improved wear resistance.
Custom Diamond Coated Tools
Custom cutting tools can be manufactured to customer drawings and specifications.
Tool geometry, carbide substrate, and coating grade are selected based on the intended machining application.
Benefits of Diamond Coating
Extended Tool Life
The exceptional hardness and abrasion resistance of diamond can significantly extend cutting tool life when machining suitable materials.
Reduced Tool Changes
Longer tool life can reduce machine downtime and the frequency of tool replacements.
Consistent Machining Performance
Diamond coatings help maintain cutting-edge performance during extended production runs.
Improved Wear Resistance
CVD diamond coatings are particularly effective when machining abrasive materials that rapidly wear conventional carbide tools.
Reduced Overall Tooling Costs
Although diamond coated tools typically have a higher initial cost than uncoated carbide, extended tool life and reduced downtime can lower overall machining costs.
Materials & Applications
CVD diamond coated cutting tools are commonly used for machining:
Graphite
Carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP)
Fiberglass and composites
Aluminum and high-silicon aluminum alloys
Copper, brass, and bronze
Abrasive plastics
Green carbide
Green ceramics
Carbon and other abrasive materials
The appropriate coating grade depends on the workpiece material, tool geometry, and cutting conditions.
Request a Quote
National Diamond Tool & Coating offers CVD diamond coated end mills, drills, reamers, inserts, and custom cutting tools.
Contact us with your tool drawing, part number, required quantity, or application specifications for pricing and availability.