The common CNC tool materials are: high speed steel, powder metallurgy high speed steel, cemented carbide, PCD, CBN, cermet and other superhard materials. High-speed steel tools are sharp and have good toughness, while cemented carbide tools have high hardness but poor toughness. The density of cemented carbide tools is obviously higher than that of high speed steel tools. These two materials are the main materials of drill, reamer, milling cutter and tap. The performance of powder metallurgy high speed steel is between the two materials, and it is mainly used to manufacture rough milling cutters and taps.

High-speed steel tool is not sensitive to collision because of its good toughness. However, cemented carbide tools are hard and brittle, sensitive to collision, and the cutting edge is easy to jump. Therefore, in the process of grinding, we must be very careful about the operation and placement of cemented carbide tools to prevent the collision between NC tools or the falling of NC tools.

Because the precision of high-speed steel tools is relatively low, their grinding requirements are not high, and their prices are not high, many manufacturers set up their own tool workshops to grind them. But cemented carbide tools often need to be sent to professional grinding centers for grinding.