Solutions for micro-precision machining
Nobuaki Kamiya, Managing Director of OSG Diamond Tool
The micro-precision machining market is a vital and dynamic sector fueled by the rising demand for highly accurate components with tight tolerances in diverse industries such as aerospace, automotive, electronics, energy, optics, and medical. Key factors driving this growth include the increasing need for high-precision parts for enhanced performance, safety, and reliability. The trend towards miniaturization across various sectors, requiring intricate designs for compact and high-performance components, further necessitates precision machining. Moreover, the growing integration of automation and robotics in manufacturing processes has significantly contributed to the market’s recent rapid expansion by improving efficiency, minimizing errors, and enabling the handling of complex tasks.
Establishment of OSG Diamond Tool
To better support the evolving needs of micro-precision manufacturing, OSG Diamond Tool was established on December 1, 2024, through two acquisitions that occurred during the same year – Contour Fine Tooling B.V. (Contour) by OSG and Micro Diamond Corporation (Micro Diamond) by Nissin Diamond Co., Ltd. (Nissin Diamond), an OSG Group company. The strengths of these three unique companies create a complementary synergy. Specifically, Contour specializes in single-crystal diamond tools, Micro Diamond manufactures ultra-small diameter monocrystalline ball end mills using proprietary technology, and Nissin Diamond, the central entity of the three, produces a variety of cutting tools, such as natural diamond, synthetic single-crystal diamond, polycrystalline diamond (PCD) and polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (PCBN) cutting tools. Contour and Micro Diamond cutting tools are generally used for ultra-precision processing applications, whereas Nissin Diamond provides cutting tool solutions for general high-precision machining. As a comprehensive diamond tool manufacturer, OSG Diamond Tool aims to leverage synergies across its sales, manufacturing, and management divisions to deliver precision tooling solutions globally.
Figure 1. OSG Diamond Tool is a comprehensive diamond tool manufacturer, with unique specialties from three companies – Contour, Micro Diamond and Nissin Diamond, complementing each other to fulfill machining needs ranging from roughing to ultra-fine processing. Leveraging advanced design capabilities, OSG Diamond Tool efficiently manages both prototype development and high-volume manufacturing.
Contour Fine Tooling B.V.
Contour Fine Tooling B.V., a subsidiary of Precision Tools Holding B.V., is a Netherlands based world-class manufacturer specializing in ultra-precision diamond cutting tools. Established in 1982, the company has built a strong reputation for innovation, precision, quality, and value in the field of ultra-precision machining and electro-mechanical engraving.
Contour Fine Tooling’s headquarters and manufacturing facility in Valkenswaard, Netherlands.
In July 2024, the OSG Group acquired Precision Tools Holding B.V., which encompasses Contour, to expand OSG’s presence in micro-precision machining and accelerate global growth by integrating new customer segments and diamond tool grinding technology.
From left, single-crystal diamond insert, single-crystal diamond bite, single-crystal diamond fly-cutting insert and single-crystal diamond ball end mill by Contour.
Contour offers a wide assortment of diamond tools, including natural and synthetic single-crystal diamond tools, as well as polycrystalline diamond tools in a wide range of radius sizes and rake angles. Contour’s product range includes turning inserts solid shank tools, milling tools, fly-cutting tools, styli, burr-cutters, diamond anvils, and more. Contour tools have exceptional accuracy, tool life, and create superior finishes for the end-product. In addition to standardized items, custom tools are also available for optimal fit with the client’s machine tool, process, and component quality requirements. With specialized machinery for manufacturing and 110 highly skilled workforce around the globe, Contour continuously improves the performance of its diamond tools by working with customers in both industry and academia.
Contour tools are primarily used in the optics industries for the processing of contact lenses, lens molds, optical components, and more.
Contour tools are primarily used in the optics and printing industries, including the manufacturing of spectacle lenses, contact and intra-ocular lenses, lens molds for electronic components (e.g., mobile phone lenses), photo-receptor drums, infra-red and laser optics, mirrors, and a wide range of other optics applications.
Employees from Contour’s Japan office pose for a photograph in Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan.
A single-crystal diamond bite in production at Contour’s Tokyo facility.
Ryo Akamine, Production Leader at Contour, interacts with a colleague at the company’s Tokyo facility.
While headquartered in Valkenswaard, Netherlands, Contour has a global reach, serving customers across EMEA, the Americas, and Asia. Technical training, product servicing and on-site support are available for customers world-wide. Addtionally, Contour has repair facilities in multiple countries, including Belgium, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Brazil, Japan, China, and the USA.
For more information on Contour
Micro Diamond Corporation
Micro Diamond Corporation, located in Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, was established in 2000. Micro Diamond specializes in the research, development, manufacturing, and sales of micro tools for ultra-fine, precision, and high-quality machining, utilizing single-crystal diamond and binderless cubic boron nitride (CBN).
Mirror-finish in aluminum achieved by the AccuSquare from the Micro Diamond brand. The Accu series under the Micro Diamond brand is a product lineup suited for ultra-precision machining and is widely used for automotive head-up display molds, PES lens molds, microlens arrays, diffraction gratings, etc.
In October 2024, the business of Micro Diamond was taken over by the OSG Group. By integrating Micro Diamond’s unique technology in ultra-small diameter monocrystalline ball end mills, OSG aims to significantly advance its offerings in the micro-precision machining field within the diamond tool market.
From left, superior mirror-finish in aluminum, brass and copper by the AccuBall from the Micro Diamond brand.
Micro Diamond Corporation is recognized as the only manufacturer globally with proprietary technology for producing ultra-small diameter monocrystalline ball end mills. These tools are crucial for achieving high precision in micro-machining applications. In addition, Micro Diamond’s binderless CBN micro tools boasted significantly longer lifespan (more than double compared to conventional tools), the ability to achieve sub-nanometer level surface roughness, and an extremely small minimum corner radius of 5 μm.
From left, 1,000x magnified views of the rake faces of a R0.1 mm AccuBall and a 0.1 mm diameter AccuSquare.
Micro Diamond tools are primarily used in industries requiring high precision and micro-level machining, such as the manufacturing of optical components (e.g., lenses for cameras, smartphones, optical disks), production of micro molds, as well as the machining of precision parts in electronics and medical devices.
OSG Diamond Tool’s production team responsible for the Micro Diamond brand poses for a group photograph at the company’s manufacturing facility in Odawara, Kanagawa, Japan.
Nissin Diamond Co., Ltd.
Nissin Diamond Co., Ltd. is a cutting tool manufacturer based in Takashima, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. Nissin Diamond has been active in the development, production and sales of diamond cutting tools since the company’s founding in 1968. Nissin Diamond specializes in the production and sales of natural diamond cutting tools, synthetic single-crystal diamond cutting tools, polycrystalline diamond (PCD) cutting tools, and cubic boron nitride (PCBN) cutting tools.
The OSG Diamond Tool headquarters and manufacturing facility in Takashima, Shiga, Japan.
Nissin Diamond’s products are used in a wide variety of industries including IT, home appliance, construction machinery, automotive, aerospace, medical equipment and more. Many items used in daily life are machined using Nissin Diamond tools.
Nobuaki Kamiya, Managing Director of OSG Diamond Tool Co., Ltd.
In September 2006, Nissin Diamond became a consolidated company of OSG Corporation. In December 2024, Nissin Diamond became “OSG Diamond Tool Co., Ltd.” following a change in the company name. Currently employing 59 employees, OSG Diamond Tool’s headquarters and its Aiba Factory are located in Takashima in the northwestern part of Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest freshwater lake.
N-Brand Series
The “N-Brand” product series was a significant development for Nissin Diamond before its name changed to OSG Diamond Tool. This series represents the company’s initiative to standardize niche products for specific applications, aiming to provide easily access specialized tooling that might have previously required custom orders. OSG Diamond Tool actively works on expanding the N-Brand lineup. Since its initial announcement in October 2023, the N-Brand received positive feedback from many customers. The N-Brand series highlights OSG Diamond Tool’s focus on providing high-precision, mirror-finish capable tools for machining non-ferrous materials and resins, with an emphasis on standardization and addressing specific customer needs. The expansion of the series demonstrates the company’s commitment to innovation and its responsiveness to the evolving demands of the manufacturing industry.
OSG Diamond Tool’s N-Brand series offers standardized, high-precision tools for a spectrum of applications, including mirror-finish machining of non-ferrous materials and resins, tailored to customer needs.
The Diamond Basics
OSG Diamond Tool introduced “The Diamond Basics” in summer 2025, a catalog designed for diamond cutting tool users worldwide. This resource goes beyond product information, acting as a global textbook encompassing all the necessary specialized knowledge for individuals involved in diamond cutting tools. Featuring approximately 28 products, including 17 new standard items, the 100-page catalog is available for download in Japanese, English, and Chinese on the OSG Diamond Tool website. The company envisions enriching the catalog’s content to establish it as both a key product reference and the recognized standard for the diamond cutting tool community.
“The Diamond Basics” is a textbook and catalog for diamond cutting tool users worldwide, providing essential specialized knowledge beyond just product information.
Technological progress and expanding applications are propelling significant growth in the micro-precision machining market. Trends such as automation, artificial intelligence integration, and sustainable practices will continue to shape its evolution. With a consolidated system for the manufacturing and sales of single-crystal diamond tools for micro- and ultra-precision machining, OSG Diamond Tool is poised to substantial progress in the micro-precision machining sector, which is expected to play an important role in future economic development, with continuous innovation and product portfolio expansion.
For more information on OSG Diamond Tool
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