Milling Cutters

It started in 2015, when engineers at a major U.S.-based aircraft manufacturer kicked-off a challenge to determine which cutting tool manufacturer offers the best products for milling forged Ti-6Al-4V titanium. The company invited Kennametal and 10 other global tooling suppliers to the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) in the U.K., where the different teams competed in the challenge.

Iron’s everywhere. The turbines in those big windmills popping up all over the place. Engine blocks, transmission cases, and turbocharger housings. The pumps that bring water to our faucets and the hydraulic manifolds that put the “move” into earthmoving machinery. Without iron, none of these would be possible. This is why Kennametal has produced cutting tools that make iron machining both cost-effective, efficient, and ensures easy handling.

A new, electric portable pipe machining tool that is a powerful alternative to pneumatic tools for end prepping boiler tubes and other pipe fabrication work has been introduced by Esco Tool. The ESCO MILLHOG Mini Electric Pipe Beveling Tool rigidly mounts to the tube or pipe ID and is suitable for end prepping heavy-wall stainless steel pipe and other highly alloyed metals when compressed air is not available.

The new MD133 Supreme milling cutter from Walter, designed specifically for dynamic milling, delivers increased process reliability, particularly during unmanned operation. It reportedly boosts productivity thanks to a higher metal-removal rate and a reduction in machining time.

DUO-LOCK from Kennametal Inc. is a modular endmill with the performance of solid carbide. It uses a proprietary, double-cone locating surface similar to that of Kennametal’s KM or KM4X tooling design, assuring “not to exceed” radial runout values of 5 μm (.0002 in.) and Z-axis coupling repeatability of 10 μm (.0004 in.) or better.

Customers have been asking for a new carbide grade to machine titanium 6Al4V at higher cutting speeds compared to increasing feed rates or increasing depth of cuts in that result in increased cutting forces imposed on the workpiece, fixtures and machine spindles. The KCSM40 grade has an advance cobalt binder that provides thermal fatigue resistance without sacrificing the toughness customers have experienced with KC725M or X500.

Walter has introduced the Walter has introduced the M2471, a copy milling cutter with excellent cost efficiency thanks to its high metal-removal rate -- even on low performance machines, coupled with lower cutting material costs resulting from its eight cutting edges (four per side) per insert. These 12 mm positive cutting geometry, round inserts with negative basic shape feature Walter's Tiger·tec Silver coating, ensuring maximum tool life.

Sandvik Coromant has unveiled a new, high-feed version of the CoroMill 745 facemilling cutter, featuring a 25° entering angle for additional productivity gains when milling steel and cast iron workpieces. The new, high-feed version facilitates even higher metal-removal rates in applications with depths of cut up to 2.8 mm (0.110 inch).

Seco has further expanded its selection of disc milling inserts and cutter bodies to meet customer demands for reliable, high performing cutters. With that, the company has introduced the 335.14 small-diameter exchangeable head system, 335.16 cutter for T-slot operations and cassette versions of its 335.25 cutter that incorporate round inserts.