PVD Coating Center

FOCUSED ON QUALITY…

WHO IS SILMAX?History

Paul Alessio starts to produce his first tools. The workshop is named ‘Usine’

Under the supervision ofEnrico M. Fumagalli, “Usine” resumes its

production .

1955 1984

2005

2011

2012

‘Usine’ then becomesSILMAX, 

a modern corporation.

Joint – venture between SILMAXand SPA BALZERS 

AG

SILMAX turns50 years old

Silmax opens up toIndian Market

SILMAX opens 3 branches worlwide

2013

Silmax opensits own Coating

Center

1819 1975 2014

WHERE IS SILMAX?In the world

Nowadays SILMAX is able to directly supply more than 400 customers in 30 countries all over the world. 

In 2012 we opened three new Offices in Germany ‐ Frankfurt,  China – Beijing and India ‐ Bangalore.

SILMAX HEADQUARTER 

ITALY

SILMAX GmbH

SILMAX TOOLS SILMAX TOOLS INDIA PVT. LTD.

SILMAX CHINA RAPRESENTATIVE 

OFF.

NEW COATING CENTER

Silmax Board of Directors has recently supported a significant investment that, 30 yearsafter the opening of Balzers–Silmax company, namely since December 2013, has allowedto have, an internal PVD Coating Center.The production site, together with the new cleaning plant and automated warehouse, islocated in the former Balzers – Silmax facility.

SILMAX Coating Center in Lanzo Torinese

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The PVD process can be divided in 3 main sub‐processes:

Surface preparationAn ultrasonic cleaning process removes all the residues and activatesthe tool surface

PVD CoatingA compound with metal ions and vapor is deposited on the tool as ahighly adhering, thin coating

Quality ControlStandardized testing procedures ensure that all parameters aboutthe quality of coatings are verifiable and always comparable

NEW COATING CENTER

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Cleaning systemSilmax provides,  for his coating center in Lanzo Torinese,   a fully automated, modular cleaning plant, including ultrasonic immersion tanks,  osmotic rinsing and end dryer.

This system has been designed using the latest technologies available in the field of Industrial Cleaning.

SURFACE PREPARATION

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Cavitation is the principleunderlying all the ultrasoniccleaning systems.

The method includes thegeneration of controlledacoustic cavitation in thecleaning fluid, picking up andcarrying contaminant particlesaway, so that they do notreattach to the material to becleaned.

The cavitation has sufficient power to overcome the particle‐to‐substrate adhesionforces, using both physical and chemical interaction between fluid and specificallydesigned detergents.

SURFACE PREPARATION

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PVD stands for Physical Vapor Deposition.

An  electric arc of few microns size is moving over the solid metal coating material, causing it to evaporate. Because of the high currents and power used, the evaporated material is almost totally ionized to form a high‐energy plasma.

The metal ions combine with the reactive gas introduced into the chamber and hit the tools or components to be coated with high energy. So they are deposited as a highly adhering, thin coating.

COATING PROCESS

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THE NEW BENCHMARK IN COATING TECHNOLOGY

FASTShort batch times of 2 to 3 hours allowup to 8 batches per day.

PRECISEPreviously unattainable accuracy in coating thickness and coating adhesion.

FLEXIBLEHighly flexible with regard to applicable coatings and technologies, loading and handling.

OERLIKON BALZERS INGENIA

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OERLIKON BALZERS INGENIA

SILMAX TEAM

SILMAX COATING UNIT

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Silmax provides new generation coatings

Alcrona ProBALINIT® ALCRONA PRO is the new top offer in cutting applications

AlnovaWith BALINIT® ALNOVA, challenging materials can be machined with high productivity and superior quality

LatumaBALINIT® LATUMA improves process reliability even under the most difficult conditions

COATINGS

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COATINGS’ DEVELOPMENT

1998 2000 2005 2013

TiAlN FAMILY

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COATINGS’ DEVELOPMENT

2005 2008 2012

AlCrN FAMILY

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COATINGS’ APPLICATION

X‐Hard

Dedicated coatings for specificapplications. Balinit ALNOVA for Ti and stainless , X‐Hard for hard machining

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ALCRONA PRO : AlCrNALL‐PURPOSE COATING

FOR VARIOUS APPLICATION

Structure AlCrN Monolayer

Microhardness HV 0.05 3.200

Residual compressive strength [Gpa] ‐3.0 Thermal shock stabilityMax. service temperature [°C] 1.100 Improved etching processCoefficient of friction 0,35 Reliability

Further development of existing Balinit Alcrona

Improved new etching technology

AlCrN Monolayer

Modified coating structure upon adjustment of process parameters

ALCRONA PRO : AlCrN

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Structure AlCrN double‐layer

Microhardness HV 0.05 3.200 High hardnessResidual compressive strength [Gpa] ‐3.0 Thermal shock stabilityMax. service temperature [°C] 1.100 ReproducibilityCoefficient of friction 0,3 Coating surfaceFurther development of existing Balinit AlcronaImproved new etching technologyAlCrN/AlCrXN double layerModified coating structure upon adjustment of process parameters and additional elementsOptimized coating thickness for application

ALNOVA : AlCrNCHALLENGING MATERIAL COATING

INCREASED HARDNESS AT APPLICATION TEMPERATURES

ALNOVA : AlCrN

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LATUMA : AlTiNCOATING  UNDER THE MOST DIFFICULT CONDITIONS

HIGH APPLICATION FLEXIBILITY

Structure AlTiN based

Microhardness HV 0.05 3.000 High hardnessResidual compressive strength [Gpa] ‐3.0 Thermal shock stabilityMax. service temperature [°C] 1.100 High chemical stabilityCoefficient of friction 0,35 Latest generation target

Further development of existing Balinit X‐CeedImproved new etching technologyHigh Aluminium content enhances oxidation resistance and hot temperature hardnessOptimized coating thickness for application

LATUMA : AlTiN

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In order to ensure the highest quality for its products Silmax has defined precise testing procedures.

In every batch we introduce 3 specimensWhich will be tested in order to define: 

The good adhesion between substrateand coating through indentation.The proper coating’s thickness using thecalotest and the microscope.

The tools can be shipped to the customersonly after getting the positive results to these testing procedures.

QUALITY PROCEDURES

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Silmax has adopted the latest techniques to measure the physical properties of PVD coatings:

QUALITY INSTRUMENTATION

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CALOTESTER: coating thickness test

QUALITY INSPECTION

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INDENTATION: adhesion test for thin‐film coatingsA diamond cone is indented in the sample. The remaining circular indentation is evaluated under the microscope.

QUALITY INSPECTION

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INDENTATION: adhesion test for thin‐film coatingsThe circular indentation is evaluated under the microscope, according to the below picture:

QUALITY INSPECTION

SUITABLE

ACCEPTABLE

NON CONFORMITY

SILMAX SpAThank you

FOCUSED ON QUALITY