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Insert Designation Symbols


J&M Diamond Tool's uses the ANSI indexable insert 
numbering system. 
These seven and eight digit systems are presented here in an interactive format explaining each of the digits.

Designation Symbols

For Indexable 
Insert Numbers 
For Milling Cutter 
Indexable Inserts

For Indexable Insert Numbers

This system is an eight digit system


Indexable Insert Listing
1st 
Position
2nd Position 3rd 
Position Tolerance
4th 
Position*
5th
Position
6th Position 7th 
Position
8th Position*
Letter Letter Letter Letter Number Number Number or Letter Letter
Shape Clearance Class Type Size Thickness Cutting Point
Radius or Flats
Other
Conditions
R - 
Round 
S -
Square 
T - 
Triangle 
P -
Pentagon
D - 
Diamond 55° 
C - 
Diamond 80° 
O -
Octagon
H - 
Hexagon
L - 
Rectangle
M- 
Diamond 86° 
A - Parallelo-
gram 85°
B - Parallelo-
gram 82°
E - Parallelo-
gram 55°
F - Parallelo-
gram 70°
V - 
Diamond 35°
N - 0°
A - 3°
B - 5°
C - 7°
P - 11°
D - 15°
E - 20°
F - 25°
G - 30°
Cutting
Point
Thickness
A
 ± .0002 
± .001 
± .0002
± .005
± .0005
± .001
± .0005
± .005
E
  ± .001 
± .001
G
 ± .001 
± .005
**M
  ± .002 to 
   ± 005 
 ± .005
**U
 ± .005 to  ±.021 
± .005
**Exact tolerance to be 
determined by size of insert.
A - 
With hole
B - 
With hole and one countersink
C - 
With hole and two countersink
F - 
Clamp-on type with chipbreaker
G - 
With hole and 
chipbreaker
H -
With hole, one countersink and 
chipbreaker
J - 
With hole, two countersink and 
chipbreaker
Size 1/4" and over use 
Number of 
1/8ths in size
For Rectangular
and Parallelogram
use two digits; 
number of 1/8ths
in width 
and 1/4ths
in length
Size 1/4" and 
over use - 
Number of  1/16ths in thickness
0 sharp corner
1 1/64 radius
2 1/32 radius
3 3/64 radius
4 1/16 radius
6 3/32 radius
8 1/8 radius
A Square insert
with 45° chamfer
 
A - 
Ground all over - light 
honed
B- 
Ground all 
over - heavy honed
C - 
Ground 
top and bottom 
only light honed
D - 
Ground 
top and bottom 
onlyheavy honed
E - Unground 
insert- honed
F - Unground 
insert - not honed
T - 
chamfer-
cutting edge
 
 * Shall be used only when required
Indexable Insert Numbers System  Example
1st Position Shape
2nd Position Clearance
3rd Position Tolerance
Example is "T" for Triangle. 
Example is "N" for 0°. 
Example is "M" for ±.005 on 
I.C. ±.005 on thickness.

For Milling Cutter Indexable Inserts

This system is a seven digit system

.
1st Position 2nd Position 3rd Position Tolerance 4th Position 5th Position 6th Position 7th Position
Letter Letter Letter Number Number Number or Letter Number
Shape Clearance Tolerance Size Thickness  Corner 
Condition
Radius or 
Chamfer size 
M - 
diamond 
86°
S - square
H - hexagon
N - 0° 
P - 11°
H - 0° sides 
and 11° chamfers
E - 20°
Cutting Point Thickness
C  ± .0005 ± .001 
E   ± .001 ± .001 
G   ± .001 ± .005 
N   ± .014, 020 ± .001 
 

Number 
of 1/8 in 
I.C. size

Number 
of 1/32 in  thickness 

R - Radius 
A - 45° Chamfer
D - 30° Chamfer R.H. 
E - 15° Chamfer R.H.
G - 30° Chamfer L.H
H - 15° Chamfer L.H.
K - 30° Double 
Chamfer 
L - 15° Double 
Chamfer 
W - 3° Double 
Chamfer 
 

Number of  1/64ths in size

Indexable Insert Numbers System  Example
1st Position Shape
2nd Position Clearance
3rd Position Tolerance
Example is "M" for "diamond 86°"
Example is "N" for "0°"
The part number example is "C" for 
"cutting point ± .0005, thickness ± .001"

J & M DIAMOND TOOL, INC.
Toll Free ( 800 ) 777-6813 - - Fax ( 401 ) 431-2222

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            Updated 28 September 2005