Buy Indexable Turning Tool Holders Online in Australia
Indexable turning tool holders are the modern alternative to brazed and HSS lathe tooling. Instead of grinding a single-edge tool, you bolt a multi-edge carbide insert into a holder and rotate to a fresh edge when one wears. Faster changeovers, predictable geometry, consistent surface finish, and inserts that work harder than HSS can.
AIMS stocks 391 turning tool holders covering most of the workshop and production combinations Australian machinists ask for — Seco for the premium European standard, Maxigear for value-grade workshop holders. External and internal (boring), right and left hand, multiple lock systems, and the full range of insert geometries.
External vs Internal Turning Holders
External turning holders sit in the toolpost and machine outside diameters, face the work, chamfer, and form. Internal turning holders (also called boring bar holders) machine inside diameters — a hole, a counterbore, an internal recess. The geometry is similar but the holder body is longer and slimmer to reach inside the work without fouling.
For boring-specific guidance — L:D ratios, anti-vibration bars, finishing strategies — see our Boring Bar Guide.
Insert Geometry — Reading the ISO Designation
The letters and numbers on an indexable holder follow ISO 5608. The first letter usually identifies the lock system; the next describes the insert shape; subsequent letters cover clearance angle, lock direction, holder style, shank size and insert size.
The most common combinations stocked at AIMS:
- SCLCR / SCLCL — Screw lock, C-shape (CCMT) insert, right- or left-hand. Workshop staple for general turning.
- SDJCR / SDJCL — Screw lock, D-shape (DCMT) insert. 55° rhombic — finishing and profiling.
- MTJNR / MTJNL — Multiple lock, T-shape (TNMG) insert. Roughing in tougher materials.
- MWLNR / MWLNL — Multiple lock, W-shape (WNMG) trigon insert. 80° corner, heavy-duty external turning.
- PDJNR / PDJNL — Pin lock, D-shape insert. Heavier cuts than screw lock equivalents.
- SVABR / SVABL — Screw lock, V-shape insert. 35° narrow rhombic — profile turning and copy work.
Lock Systems Explained
Screw lock (S) — Single screw clamps insert to seat. Compact, suits small to medium inserts. Workshop default.
Pin lock (P) — Pin engages insert centre hole. Stiffer than screw lock under heavier feeds. Common on 16mm and 20mm shanks.
Clamp lock (C) — Top clamp over insert. Used where heavy interrupted cuts shock screw-lock seats loose.
Multiple lock (M) — Combines pin and clamp. Heaviest-duty option for roughing.
Brands We Stock
Seco — Premium Swedish/European cutting tool brand. The full range stocked here covers their MDT and Jetstream platforms with screw-lock, pin-lock, clamp-lock and multiple-lock holders in steel and solid carbide. Use for production environments where edge life and finish quality justify the cost.
Maxigear — Workshop value brand. Common shank sizes and lock styles at significantly lower cost. Suits maintenance shops, jobbing work, and trade school environments where a Seco-grade holder is over-spec for the job.
What to Match Up
A holder is half the system. The other half is the insert. Confirm before ordering:
- Insert shape — C, D, S, T, V, W, R — must match the seat in the holder.
- Insert IC size — Inscribed circle diameter (e.g. 06, 09, 12). Stamped in the ISO code.
- Shank size — Match the toolpost on your lathe. Common sizes: 10mm, 12mm, 16mm, 20mm, 25mm square. Imperial sizes also stocked.
- Hand — Right-hand for most external turning (toolpost on the operator's side). Left-hand for back turning and certain CNC setups.
- Approach angle — 75°, 80°, 90°, 95°. Determines what surfaces the tool can reach.
Companion Tooling
Inserts go in here: Indexable Inserts (1,300+ stocked). Boring bars are stocked separately under Boring Bars. For full lathe tool selection covering inserts, geometry and material grades, see the broader Machinery & Tooling range.
For background reading: End Mill Guide (insert grade selection principles apply to turning), Boring Bar Guide (L:D ratios, chatter control), Lathe RPM Formula Guide (surface speed calculations).
Common Questions
What does CNMG mean? CNMG is an ISO insert designation. C = 80° rhombic shape, N = 0° clearance (negative), M = ground tolerance class, G = chipbreaker and hole geometry. The numbers after specify size, corner radius and thickness. Pair with an MCLNR or similar holder.
Can I use Seco inserts in a Maxigear holder? Yes — if the ISO designation matches, the seat geometry is interchangeable across major brands. The constraint is shape, size and hole/clamp style, not brand.
Right hand or left hand for external turning? Right hand (R) for most lathes — cuts towards the chuck. Left hand (L) for back-turning operations or where the toolpost mounts on the far side of the work.
Screw lock or pin lock? Screw lock for general workshop turning up to ~16mm shanks. Pin lock for heavier feeds, interrupted cuts, or where insert seating must stay locked under shock.
What shank size do I need? Match your toolpost. A QCTP (quick-change tool post) on a 7-12 size lathe typically takes 10-12mm. Larger lathes (320mm+) usually take 20-25mm shanks. Check before ordering — shank too big won't fit, shank too small introduces flex and chatter.
Need help selecting a holder for a specific job? Call the Sydney team on (02) 9773 0122 or message us through the contact form. We'll match a holder, insert and grade combination to the work you're doing.