Stellite

The Stellite tool series is specifically developed for applications where extreme wear resistance and exceptional heat stability are essential. Manufactured for high-grade Stellite alloys, including Stellite 6, 6B, 694, and other Cobalt-based superalloy's, these cutters are built to perform in the harshest machining environments.

Engineered to withstand abrasive contact, fluctuating temperatures, and high-pressure cutting conditions, Stellite tools excel in machining extremely hard materials, including hardened steels, and wear-resistant surfaces. Their unique metallurgical composition provides superior edge retention, preventing premature rounding or chipping even under continuous heavy load.

One of the standout advantages of the Stellite tool line is its significantly extended tool life. Compared to conventional cutting tools, our Stellite-based cutters maintain their integrity and cutting performance far longer, reducing the frequency of tool changes, lowering operational costs, and ensuring uninterrupted workflow.

These tools are the ideal choice for demanding industries sectors where reliability, durability, and predictable performance are critical to maintaining productivity and protecting equipment investments.

Details on Stellite

Stellite® is the trade name for a family of cobalt-based alloys that are specifically engineered to perform where conventional materials fail. Thanks to their exceptional resistance to wear, high temperatures and aggressive chemical environments, Stellite alloys are widely used in heavy industrial applications such as valve components, pump parts, sealing surfaces and critical wear zones in the oil & gas, power generation and process industries. These same properties that make Stellite so reliable in service also make it one of the most demanding materials to machine.

From a machining perspective, Stellite behaves very differently from steel or even from typical nickel-based alloys. The cobalt matrix retains its strength at elevated temperatures, meaning that the material does not soften during cutting. Combined with the presence of extremely hard chromium and tungsten carbides, this results in high cutting forces and intense abrasive wear on the cutting edge. Heat generated during machining is poorly conducted away from the cutting zone, concentrating thermal load in the tool and accelerating wear mechanisms such as edge chipping and micro-fracture. In addition, several Stellite grades exhibit strong work-hardening behaviour, so any instability, re-cutting or light passes can rapidly turn a manageable operation into a tool-destroying process.

Within the Stellite family, machinability varies significantly. Stellite 6 is often considered the most versatile grade, offering a balance between wear resistance and relative machinability. While still challenging, it can be turned or milled under controlled conditions with the right tooling strategy. Stellite 12 pushes wear resistance even further through a higher carbide content, making it extremely aggressive towards cutting tools and typically favouring grinding over conventional machining. Stellite 21, on the other hand, contains fewer hard carbides and is tougher and more ductile, but this toughness comes with a pronounced tendency to work harden, demanding stable cutting conditions and decisive material removal.

Successful machining of Stellite is therefore less about pushing speed and more about control, stability and tool integrity. Sharp, well-designed cutting edges, rigid setups and a cutting strategy that avoids hesitation are essential. For toolmakers like Drillmasters, mastering Stellite is not about making it easy to cut, but about developing tools and processes that can withstand one of the most extreme machining environments in modern industry.