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ISO turning insert nomenclature – simplified

Written By Ashish Kumar S

|

November 8, 2025

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ISO turning insert nomenclature – a simple rule to remember

Inserts, those SMALL things that we use to cut material, have a BIG impact on our shop’s profitability. It makes sense to know ISO turning insert nomenclature. Here is a quick explanation that makes it easy to remember insert names.

Inserts are known by an ISO naming convention that describes their shape and size. Each alphabet and number in the name signifies an aspect of the insert’s shape or size. E.g., the first alphabet is the shape, while the last two numbers are the nose radius.

Insert name on a box

Action point

If you decide the tooling (e.g., if you are a programmer, process planner or industrial engineer), you have to know the naming convention thoroughly, as well as the logic behind selecting the shape and size of an insert.

If you’re a big shot, just learn the meaning of the parameters marked in red in the above picture, to impress the gang with your knowledge of ISO turning insert nomenclature.

Text and pics. source: CADEM NCyclopedia multimedia CNC training software.

Author

Ashish Kumar S

cadem
Ashish brings strong techno-commercial depth across CNC productivity solutions, CAD/CAM systems, and skill development initiatives. As the face of CADEM’s CNC ecosystem, he drives solution adoption and market growth by aligning advanced manufacturing software with real-world production challenges. A passionate advocate of CNC education in India, he actively engages with customers and students to bridge the gap between industry needs and workforce readiness.

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