Stellram's strength comes from its continuous advancements in innovating new products and techniques that help you optimize your bottom line.  Take a journey through time with us in our innovation timeline.

1964 - Screw down positive inserts
Stellram was the first cutting tool firm to employ screw fixation as a means to attach inserts to tool bodies. Posicut – a term still used within Stellram today, changed the cutting tool industry by permitting closer pitches, thus allowing higher feed-rates and greater metal removal productivity.

1976 – Cermet Patent
Stellram’s patent for spinoidal decomposition ushered in the era of modern cermet cutting tools, providing greater surface speeds, improved finishes, and dry machining.

1982 – 'A style milling inserts'
All modern AP or AD style milling inserts trace their development to an early Stellram design introduced in 1982. Copied the world over for slotting or shouldering applications, the original Stellram concept has been updated many times with new geometry, sizes, substrates and coatings.

1984 – Ruthenium grades
The ‘X’ grades, a Stellram exclusive, was introduced in 1984 as a means to achieve unmatched performance cutting difficult to machine materials. Still recognized today as a break-through product, Stellram continues its innovation with these enhanced substrates. Patented grade X400 was introduced in 2004 as a new PVD generation of the X grades, providing predictable tool life under the most unfavorable conditions.

1986 - Aerostell®
Jointly developed by Stellram and Aerospatiale, the Aerostell routing cutter enabled European aviation companies to meet competition from larger global competitors. Today, the original concept has been updated to deliver 40,000+ RPM performance in G2.5 balanced bodies.

1987 – Indexable Thread Mill
This innovation, using helical interpolation to create thread forms, reduced the inherent risk associated with tapping highly engineered and expensive components, eliminating costly scrap. Today, Stellram licenses it patented technology for indexable thread-milling to many cutting tool companies.

1990 – Medium Temperature CVD coatings
Stellram’s early work with moderate temperature CVD coatings and polished cutting edges ushered in the era of the modern aluminum oxide turning grades. Today’s higher speeds and longer tool life are traceable to Stellram’s pioneering work in this area.

1995 – Octagonal Milling
Stellram’s VOD milling designs introduced to the metalcutting community the concept of 8 sided face-milling inserts, a replacement for the popular 4 edge SEK style insert. Updated through the years to provide new sizes, geometry, edge preparations and coating, Stellram provides the most complete solution for 8 sided face-milling offered by any tooling manufacturer.

2002 – Anti-rotation & Anti-ejection tooling
Designed to meet the need of greater insert security, Stellram introduced patented concepts in 2002 to lock inserts into tooling pockets, preventing movement when operating at high speed or feed rates. Applications that benefited from this technology included turbine blade, mould tooling, and airframe manufacturing.

2004 – High Feed Milling
Stellram’s patented high feed milling tools are changing the methods employed to rough mill components in many industries. With 4 cutting edges, and the possibility to face-mill, slot, plunge, and profile in all materials, and with feed rates to 3mm, Stellram’s new designs represent a machining break through – delivering lower costs and increased productivity.

2006 – Composite Tool Technology
Stellram, in collaboration with ATI Metalworking Products, is pioneering the use of composite substrates to enhance performance in selected applications. Beginning in 2006, solid carbide and replaceable insert drilling systems will become available using Stellram’s patented HardCore® Technology. Composite materials, using 2 or more carbide materials, will offer superior tool performance by matching tool design to application requirements.