Prima Tooling manufactures cutting tools for machining high-pressure laminate (HPL), compact laminate and other abrasive laminated materials on CNC routers and production machinery.
Our HPL cutting tools include PCD and solid carbide router cutters for profiling, sizing, trimming, grooving and specialist machining applications. Standard and bespoke tooling can be manufactured to suit the material thickness, machine, required edge finish and production volume.
Tool material and cutter geometry are particularly important when machining compact laminate because of its abrasive construction and the demands placed on the cutting edge during production machining.
PCD or Solid Carbide for HPL?
Both PCD and solid carbide can be used for machining HPL and compact laminate, but the best choice depends on the application, material, cutter size, edge finish and production volume.
PCD router cutters are well suited to abrasive laminated materials and longer production runs where extended tool life and consistent cutting performance are important.
Solid carbide router cutters can be a good choice for lower-volume work, smaller diameters, detailed profiles and applications where tool flexibility is more important than maximum service life.
Prima Tooling can manufacture both PCD and solid carbide tooling for HPL applications, including standard and bespoke cutter geometries.
HPL & Compact Laminate Machining Applications
HPL and compact laminate are abrasive materials, so cutter selection should take account of the panel construction, thickness, machining operation, required edge finish and production volume.
Prima Tooling manufactures tooling for HPL and compact laminate applications including:
- profiling and sizing;
- cutting apertures and internal features;
- grooving and rebating;
- chamfering and edge profiling;
- trimming finished components; and
- specialist bespoke profiles.
We have also manufactured solid carbide router tooling for Trespa and other compact laminate applications, alongside PCD and carbide tooling for abrasive laminated panel materials.
Bespoke HPL & Compact Laminate Tooling
Standard cutters are not always suitable for HPL and compact laminate applications, particularly where a specific profile, restricted machining area or unusual component shape is involved.
Prima Tooling can manufacture bespoke HPL cutting tools from a technical drawing, CAD file, sample component, existing cutter or details of the machining requirement.
Tool material, cutter geometry, diameter, cutting length and edge form can all be selected around the material, machine and required finish.
HPL Cutter Sharpening & Servicing
HPL and compact laminate are abrasive materials and can place significant wear on cutting edges during production machining.
Prima Tooling provides sharpening, PCD erosion, retipping and repair for suitable PCD tooling, together with regrinding and servicing of solid carbide router cutters.
Regular servicing can help maintain cutting quality and extend the working life of suitable tooling.
Need Tooling for an HPL or Compact Laminate Application?
Send us a drawing, component sample, existing cutter or details of the material and machining operation. We can advise on suitable PCD or solid carbide tooling for the application.