The general fabrication shop cutting A36, 1018, or aluminum. Save your money and buy a standard cobalt or even good HSS.
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You’ll know it’s different. The grind is harder—you feel the resistance. That’s the wear resistance talking. scs tool platinum arkand series
They use a multilayer AlTiN + Si (Silicon) coating, branded as "Arkand-Protect." In practice, it’s a dark purple/bronze hue (not the usual black). The silicon layer is key here: it provides a higher hot hardness ceiling, allowing for dry or near-dry machining up to 1100°C interface temps without catastrophic coating failure. 2. Performance in the Wild (Stainless, Titanium, and Hardened Steel) I tested the 1/2" 4-flute variable helix end mill and a 3/8" coolant-through drill. The general fabrication shop cutting A36, 1018, or aluminum