--- title: PVD QUAD Coating Improves Tool Life in Iron-Based Machining - Outstanding Results description: Outstanding results are happening with machining iron-based materials. Special tools designed, manufactured, and reground by TE see improved tool life., image: https://hub.simplifytooling.com/hubfs/TE_11-5-19_103%20(1).jpg --- [![te-plus-logo-color](https://hub.simplifytooling.com/hs-fs/hubfs/te-plus-logo-color.png?width=134&height=71&name=te-plus-logo-color.png "te-plus-logo-color")](https://simplifytooling.com) - [Capabilities](https://simplifytooling.com/cutting-tool-regrinding/) - [Engineered Solutions](https://tru-edge.com/engineered-solutions/) - [Manufacturing](https://tru-edge.com/manufacturing/) - [Coating](https://tru-edge.com/coating/) - [Regrind](https://tru-edge.com/regrind/) - [Repair](https://tru-edge.com/metalcut-services) - [Tool Life Management](https://tru-edge.com/tool-life-management/) - Brands - [Tru-Edge](https://tru-edge.com) - [PTG](https://premiertoolgrinding.com) - [ASG](https://asgtools.com) - [MetalCut Services](https://metalcutservices.com) - [Quality](https://tru-edge.com/quality/) - [About](https://simplifytooling.com/tool-life-management-network/) - [tel:419.678.4991](tel:419.678.4991) - - [Capabilities](https://simplifytooling.com/cutting-tool-regrinding/) - [Engineered Solutions](https://tru-edge.com/engineered-solutions/) - [Manufacturing](https://tru-edge.com/manufacturing/) - [Coating](https://tru-edge.com/coating/) - [Regrind](https://tru-edge.com/regrind/) - [Repair](https://tru-edge.com/metalcut-services) - [Tool Life Management](https://tru-edge.com/tool-life-management/) - Brands - [Tru-Edge](https://tru-edge.com) - [PTG](https://premiertoolgrinding.com) - [ASG](https://asgtools.com) - [MetalCut Services](https://metalcutservices.com) - [Quality](https://tru-edge.com/quality/) - [About](https://simplifytooling.com/tool-life-management-network/) - [tel:419.678.4991](tel:419.678.4991) - ![](https://hub.simplifytooling.com/hubfs/TE_11-5-19_103%20(1).jpg) # PVD QUAD Coating Improves Tool Life in Iron-Based Machining - Outstanding Results Published by [Marc Steimer, President](https://hub.simplifytooling.com/blog/author/marc-steimer-president) on Aug 29, 2022, 9:40:52 AM   ![Images of a carousel and stand of newly coated tools](https://hub.simplifytooling.com/hs-fs/hubfs/TE_BLOG%202.png?width=237&name=TE_BLOG%202.png)Outstanding results are happening when machining iron-based materials. Special tools designed and manufactured by TE as well as tools reground at TE have proven results. Our TIXCO3 PVD coating is a key driver of success and a real winner when machining cast iron, nodular iron, and compacted graphitic iron (CGI). Tool life results are exceeding expectations. The TE Tech Team is being asked to look at additional process applications. Here are a few examples. --- **American Automotive Manufacturer – CGI Casting** - Tool Type - Carbide coolant fed step drill, helical flute - Baseline - Customer regrinds in-house and has tool coated with competitors TIALN - TE Solution - Regrind + Recoat at Tru-Edge – use TIXCO3 coating - Results - Doubled tool life from 2,000 to 3,000 parts to 4,000 to 6,000 parts - Tru-Edge Value - $58.80 per tool to regrind and recoat - Consistent performance of tools; reduction in downtime - TE Tech Team invited to look at additional applications for improvements ![Workers organizing tools into bins and prepping tools to be cleaned and coated](https://hub.simplifytooling.com/hs-fs/hubfs/TE_Coating%20Blog_1.png?width=618&name=TE_Coating%20Blog_1.png) American Truck Engine Manufacturer - CGI Casting - Tool Type - Carbide coolant fed step drill, helical flute - Baseline - Competitor regrinds tool and has tool coated with ALTIN - TE Solution - Regrind + Recoat at Tru-Edge – use TIXCO3 coating - Results - Increased tool life 3X with consistent tool life resulting in higher throughput - Tru-Edge Value - $42.70 per tool to regrind and recoat - Consistent tool life; reduced unexpected tool breakage - Customer uses the TE Pick-Up & Delivery Service Asian Tier 1 Automotive Parts Manufacturer - Nodular Iron Casting - Tool Type - Carbide coolant fed drill + counterbore + chamfer tool, G-drill (straight flute) - Baseline - Tru-Edge design and manufacture tool, uncoated per customer request - TE Improvement - Add TIXCO3 coating - Results - Original tool – 2,500 to 3,500 parts - TIXCO3 tool – 5,000 to 6,500 parts - Tru-Edge Value - $14.24 – cost to add TIXO3 coating to tool - Customer uses the TE Pick-up & Delivery Service - Customer works with TE engineer team for concurrent engineering programs --- If you want to learn more on how you can improve the life of your cutting tools when machining iron-based materials give us a call at 419-678-4991 or visit our website at [www.tru-edge.com](https://tru-edge.com/). We’ll get our TE Tech Team involved and *simplify* your iron-based machining processes! [Back to Blog](https://hub.simplifytooling.com/blog) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ## Related Articles ## [When 0.1% Tool Failure Impacts 100% of Your Throughput](https://hub.simplifytooling.com/blog/when-0.1-tool-failure-impacts-100-of-your-throughput) In high-performance machining environments, tooling reliability is not a nice-to-have—it is a... [Read More](https://hub.simplifytooling.com/blog/when-0.1-tool-failure-impacts-100-of-your-throughput) ## [Combining Machining Operations into a Single Tool Cuts Machining Costs and Improves Process Control](https://hub.simplifytooling.com/blog/combining-machining-operations-into-a-single-tool-cuts-machining-costs-and-improves-process-control) Making the change to multi-function cutting tools has benefits far beyond the savings generated... [Read More](https://hub.simplifytooling.com/blog/combining-machining-operations-into-a-single-tool-cuts-machining-costs-and-improves-process-control) ## [Set the Standard for Custom Tooling Design & Manufacturing](https://hub.simplifytooling.com/blog/we-set-the-standard-for-custom-tooling-design-manufacturing-the-subland-drill-example) The demand for precision and efficiency remains high in today's competitive manufacturing... [Read More](https://hub.simplifytooling.com/blog/we-set-the-standard-for-custom-tooling-design-manufacturing-the-subland-drill-example) [![TE+ - A Service of MSC](https://hub.simplifytooling.com/hs-fs/hubfs/TE+%20-%20FINAL-LOGOS-12.14.2025.png?width=10&height=5&name=TE+%20-%20FINAL-LOGOS-12.14.2025.png "TE+ - A Service of MSC")](https://simplifytooling.com) P: 419-678-4991 F: 419-678-4919 [tru-edge@simplifytooling.com](mailto:tru-edge@simplifytooling.com) © 2026 TE+ [Privacy Policy](https://hub.simplifytooling.com/hubfs/Tru-Edge%20June2022%20folder/pdfs/Tru-Edge-Privacy-Policy-Termly.pdf) - [Tool Life Management](https://tru-edge.com/tool-life-management/) - [Quality](https://tru-edge.com/quality/) - [About](https://tru-edge.com/about/) - [Contact](https://tru-edge.com/contact/) - [Blog](https://hub.tru-edge.com/blog) - [Careers](https://tru-edge.com/careers/) [![Certificate 13485](https://hub.simplifytooling.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Tru-Edge_June2022/images/ISO-13485-2016.png?width=1200&name=ISO-13485-2016.png "Certificate 13485")](https://hub.simplifytooling.com/hubfs/Tru-Edge%20June2022%20folder/pdfs/24_03_17-ISO-13485-2016-CERTIFICATE.pdf) [![Certificate 9001](https://hub.simplifytooling.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Tru-Edge_June2022/images/ISO9001-2015.png?width=1200&name=ISO9001-2015.png "Certificate 9001")](https://hub.simplifytooling.com/hubfs/Tru-Edge%20June2022%20folder/pdfs/24_03_17-ISO-9001-2015-CERTIFICATE.pdf) ![NTMA](https://hub.simplifytooling.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Tru-Edge_June2022/images/eTmfgc-1080x445.png?width=1200&name=eTmfgc-1080x445.png "NTMA") ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Marc Steimer, President", "url" : "https://hub.simplifytooling.com/blog/author/marc-steimer-president" }, "dateModified" : "2024-04-26T18:11:49.755Z", "datePublished" : "2022-08-29T13:40:52.000Z", "headline" : "PVD QUAD Coating Improves Tool Life in Iron-Based Machining - Outstanding Results", "image" : [ "https://hub.simplifytooling.com/hubfs/TE_11-5-19_103%20(1).jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://hub.simplifytooling.com/blog/pvd-quad-coating-improves-tool-life-in-iron-based-machining", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://hub.simplifytooling.com/hubfs/TE+%20-%20FINAL-LOGOS-12.14.2025.png" }, "name" : "Tru-Edge" } } ```