Indexable Grooving

Indexable Grooving Tools for CNC Turning

Indexable grooving and parting tools are used on CNC and manual lathes to cut grooves, recesses, undercuts, and to part off workpieces. The indexable insert design allows worn cutting edges to be replaced quickly without removing the tool body from the machine, minimising downtime and maintaining consistent tool geometry throughout a production run. AIMS stocks a comprehensive range of indexable grooving tools, parting blades, and replacement inserts from leading cutting tool brands for CNC turning centre and manual lathe applications across Australian manufacturing and engineering.

External Grooving and Parting

External grooving and parting tools hold an indexable insert in a rigid blade that mounts in a standard tool holder or quick-change toolpost. Blade thickness determines the groove width cut, and the insert geometry determines the groove profile — square bottom, radiused, or chamfered. For parting operations on larger diameter workpieces, a reinforced blade with through-coolant capability is recommended to maintain cutting performance and prevent chip packing in the cut that can cause blade deflection and tool breakage. Insert grades for grooving and parting are selected based on the workpiece material and the severity of any interruption in the cut.

Internal Grooving

Internal grooving tools cut grooves inside bores for snap ring (circlip) grooves, O-ring seats, undercuts, and similar recessed features. The tool must be long enough to reach the groove location and rigid enough to resist cutting forces without deflection that would compromise groove accuracy. Boring bar-mounted internal grooving inserts and dedicated internal grooving toolholders are available for a range of bore diameters and groove widths. Minimum bore diameter is a key specification — each internal grooving system has a minimum bore size it can enter, and this must be checked against the workpiece bore before specifying the tool.

Face Grooving

Face grooving tools cut grooves across the face of a workpiece — O-ring grooves in flange faces, undercuts at shoulder bases, and recessed face features in turned components. Face grooving requires a tool with radial cutting geometry that keeps the insert cutting perpendicular to the face across the full groove diameter. Through-coolant is beneficial for deeper face grooves where chip evacuation becomes difficult. Insert chipbreaker selection for face grooving should account for the chip control requirement for the specific groove depth and width being produced in the workpiece material.

For insert selection, application support, or to discuss specific grooving operations, contact our team.