Indexable Grooving Tool Holders

Indexable grooving tool holders cut grooves, parting cuts, undercuts and form features on the lathe. The cutting work is done by a replaceable carbide insert clamped in the holder body — when the insert wears, swap it out instead of regrinding a single-edge tool. Faster, more consistent, and the insert geometry can be optimised for the specific grooving operation.

AIMS stocks Seco and Maxigear grooving tool holders covering the common external, face and internal grooving positions, plus dedicated parting-off blades and toolholders for parting work.

External, Face, Internal — What's the Difference?

• External grooving — Cuts a groove on the outside diameter of the work. Snap-ring grooves, O-ring grooves, decorative features.
• Face grooving — Cuts a groove on the face (end) of the work, perpendicular to the spindle axis. Used for sealing grooves, recessed features.
• Internal grooving — Cuts inside a bore. Snap-ring grooves inside bearings or sleeves, internal seal grooves. Requires a slim holder body to reach inside the work.
• Parting (cutoff) — A long, thin blade or holder used to part finished work off the bar. Different geometry from grooving — narrower, deeper, designed to cut all the way through.

Holder and Insert Compatibility

Like turning toolholders, grooving holders use ISO designations. The holder body, seat geometry and insert shape must all match. Common groove insert families:

• GTN / GFN — Standard external grooving inserts.
• RGM / RGS — Round grooving inserts for O-ring and radius grooves.
• NF series — Narrow-pitch grooving for snap-ring work.

Always confirm the insert type, width and seat geometry before ordering a holder. If you're unsure, call us with the insert designation and we'll match the right body.

Companion Tooling

Indexable Turning Tool Holders — external and internal turning. Indexable Turning for internal turning operations. Indexable Inserts for the cutting edges that go in here. Parent: Machinery & Tooling.

Common Questions

Grooving tool or parting tool — what's the difference? A grooving tool cuts a groove of defined width and depth without cutting through the work. A parting tool cuts all the way through, separating the finished part from the bar. Geometry is different — parting tools are narrower and deeper.

Can I use a grooving tool to part off? A wider grooving insert (3mm+) can technically part thin-wall stock, but a dedicated parting blade is faster, stronger and less prone to chatter when cutting through.

Why is my grooving tool chattering? Common causes: too much overhang, shank too small for the cut, insert geometry wrong for the work, or feed rate too low. Drop the overhang, slow the spindle, increase the feed slightly — chatter usually disappears.

Need help matching a holder to an insert, or selecting for a specific grooving job? Call (02) 9773 0122.