A cutting tool that is assembled and ready for delivery has at least one actual dimension relating to a physical configuration of the cutting tool and being relevant for a cutting process carried out by the cutting tool. The cutting tool that is assembled and ready for delivery is assigned at least one information source that is readable by a user or a data processing system. The information source provides or encodes information relating to a deviation of the at least one actual dimension from a target dimension or the actual dimension itself. A holder for a cutting tool and a machine tool having a cutting tool are also provided.

A cutting tool, comprising a substrate and a coating disposed on the substrate, wherein the coating comprises a first layer, the first layer consists of an alternate layer in which a first unit layer and a second unit layer are alternately stacked, the first unit layer is composed of Al.sub.aTi.sub.(1-a-b)Si.sub.bN, the second unit layer is composed of Al.sub.cCr.sub.(1-c-d)Cu.sub.dN, the a, the b, the c, and the d satisfy 0.50a0.75, 0.005b0.20, 0.50c0.85, and

[00001]$0.005d<0.10,$ an average thickness of the first unit layer is 2 nm or more and 50 nm or less, and an average thickness of the second unit layer is 2 nm or more and 50 nm or less.

A cutting tool, comprising a substrate and a coating disposed on the substrate, wherein the coating comprises a first layer, the first layer consists of an alternate layer in which a first unit layer and a second unit layer are alternately stacked, the first unit layer is composed of Al.sub.aTi.sub.(1-a-b)Si.sub.bN, the second unit layer is composed of Al.sub.cCr.sub.(1-c-d)Ag.sub.dN, the a, the b, the c, and the d satisfy

[00001]$0.5a0.75,$$0.005b0.20,$$0.5c0.85,\mathrm{and}$$0.005d<0.10,$ an average thickness of the first unit layer is 2 nm or more and 50 nm or less, and an average thickness of the second unit layer is 2 nm or more and 50 nm or less.

A cutting tool, comprising a substrate and a coating disposed on the substrate, wherein the coating comprises a first layer, the first layer is composed of Al.sub.aTi.sub.bCr.sub.(1-a-b-c-d)Si.sub.cCu.sub.dN, and the a, the b, the c, and the d satisfy

[00001]$0.5a0.75,$$0.1b0.25,$$0.005c0.2,$$0.005d<0.1,\mathrm{and}$$a+b+c+d<1.$

A cutting tool, comprising a substrate and a coating disposed on the substrate, wherein the coating comprises a first layer, the first layer consists of an alternate layer in which a first unit layer and a second unit layer are alternately stacked, the first unit layer is composed of Al.sub.aTi.sub.(1-a-b)Si.sub.bN, the second unit layer is composed of Al.sub.cCr.sub.(1-c-d)Ag.sub.dN, the a, the b, the c, and the d satisfy 0.50a0.75, 0.005b0.20, 0.50c0.85, and 0.005d<0.10, an average thickness of the first unit layer is 2 nm or more and 50 nm or less, and an average thickness of the second unit layer is 2 nm or more and 50 nm or less.

A cutting tool, comprising a substrate and a coating disposed on the substrate, wherein the coating comprises a first layer, the first layer consists of an alternate layer in which a first unit layer and a second unit layer are alternately stacked, the first unit layer is composed of Al.sub.aTi.sub.(1-a-b)Si.sub.bN, the second unit layer is composed of Al.sub.cCr.sub.(1-c-d)Cu.sub.dN, the a, the b, the c, and the d satisfy 0.50a0.75, 0.005b0.20, 0.50c0.85, and 0.005d<0.10, an average thickness of the first unit layer is 2 nm or more and 50 nm or less, and an average thickness of the second unit layer is 2 nm or more and 50 nm or less.

A cutting tool, comprising a substrate and a coating disposed on the substrate, wherein the coating comprises a first layer, the first layer is composed of Al.sub.aTi.sub.bCr.sub.(1abcd)Si.sub.cCu.sub.dN, and the a, the b, the c, and the d satisfy 0.50a0.75, 0.10b0.25, 0.005c0.20, 0.005d<0.10, and a+b+c+d<1.