Any modern tool and die, injection mold making or precision machining operation uses carbide cutting tools extensively. With the huge variety of cutters available, such as indexable end mills, carbide cut off saw blades, face mills, tapered end mills and spade drills, there is a tool for every purpose. Most tooling manufacturers specialize in one or more areas, and have developed technologies that provide efficiencies that were unthinkable, even a few years ago. Hard machining is a good example of this development. The high end machine tools, such as the Mikron HSM 400, or the Sodick HS430L are capable of very fine finishes, fast metal removal rates, and a high degree of accuracy. High speed machining demands a high level of performance from the carbide cutting tools. Usually these cutt