Carbide tipped tools are far more durable than solid carbide tools. Under abnormal conditions the carbide may start to crack due to hard spots in the material being machined, incorrect feed rates or inadequate holding of workpiece. These cracks that shatter solid carbide tools are stopped in carbide tipped tools by the tough hardened tool steel body - usually permitting the tool to complete the production run.
The carbide grade in carbide tipped tools can be selected wholly based on its cutting and wear characteristics rather than compromising for the carbide's structural strength, as is required for solid carbide tools. Some high cost specialty carbides necessary for aggressive machining of many tough alloys are not even available in solid carbide round form.
Although carbide tipped tools use higher quality more costly carbide, the overall cost is usually substantially less than solid carbide tools because only the thick cutting edge is carbide. The body and shank are made from less costly tough hardened tool steel.
