Why is machining superalloys like Inconel so difficult?
Superalloys are engineered to retain their strength at extreme temperatures, which means they resist the heat generated by a cutting tool. Instead of the heat dissipating into the metal chip, it concentrates at the cutting edge, leading to rapid tool wear. Furthermore, alloys like Inconel 718 and 625 suffer from severe work-hardening—if a tool rubs against the material instead of cutting cleanly, the surface instantly hardens, destroying subsequent tooling.