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86 ISCAR ROUND TOOL CONCEPTSThe past few years have seen a dramatic change in this traditional concept. The search for new solutions to improve productivity, combined with advances in machine tool engineering, has created efficient cutting strategies and appropriate machines. A significant number of modern machines have less power but far higher speed drives and advanced computer numerical control units for high speed machining, performed by small-diameter tools moving at optimal trajectories for constant tool loading. This step, together with progress in regrinding and recoating technologies, represented a second wind for solid tool use by opening new options in rough machining. Advances in tool materials have increased the hardness level of machine workpieces. Today, solid carbide endmills, operated by high speed milling techniques, are capable of successfully cutting hard steel up to HRC 65.Fig. 11.8. Chip flow modelling is an important factor in designing chip forming surfaces of a SUMOCHAM drilling headTool manufacturers recognized the advantages of combining both solid and indexable concepts into a single design to meet the latest developments. Tools with exchangeable heads made from solid carbide, such as ISCAR%u2019s MULTI-MASTERand SUMO-CHAM tool families, represent this beneficial combination. In these families, a cutting head can be mounted on different bodies, and a body can carry different heads. This %u201cindexable solid%u201d principle enables a myriad of options for a tool configuration.So, which concept is better? Industry requires both types of cutting tool, depending on processes of technology. The ratio of indexable tools to solid and %u201cindexable solid%u201d tools in today%u2019s market is estimated at 1:1, which indicates how cutting tool development is progressing in both directions. But technological advances and improvements in processing will make tool requirements, whether solid or indexable, more demanding.