General Machining & Manufacturing Processes

In the rise of esports, or professional gaming, some see a new generation of athletes. I see our next-generation workforce. I see natural leaders in digital manufacturing and the future coders of smart cities. But we can't expect a generation of digital natives who never experienced an analog workplace to want to go back in time. They will join us if their provided workspaces and tools clearly represent the future.

Low Frequency Vibration (LFV) is Citizen's widely applicable cutting technology designed to avoid the problem of spiraling chips, entanglement of chips and built-up edges.

Shorter cycle times are key for manufacturers to remain competitive and profitable.

Sean Holt, head of sales area Americas for Sandvik Coromant Co., Fair Lawn, New Jersey, announced that a new Sandvik Coromant Center will open in Mebane, North Carolina, where customers and partners will be fully immersed in the latest technology and digital machining techniques, including CoroPlus, the platform that brings connectvitity to manufacturing. Currently, Sandvik Coromant has a production unit in Mebane that manufactures special and standard products and will expand the existing production site space to fully utilize the capabilities of the current building.

OCTOPUZ 2.3 Offline Robot Programming (OLRP) software continues to redefine the standards in OLRP by simplifying solving toolpath trajectories. The software now enables users to automatically create and optimize circular toolpaths.

Walter has added PCD grooving inserts to its Walter Cut GX grooving system, the innovative tool technology for grooving and parting off. These new geometries, straight edge (F1) and full radius (M1) excel at grooving in aluminum and titanium alloys, bringing high cutting speed, longer tool life and fine surface quality to grooving, parting and recessing operations.

Two industry leaders in the tungsten carbide world join forces to serve the U.S. market. Sinter Sud has named Castlebar Corp. its exclusive distributor in the U.S. for all its Premium Carbide Products. The addition of the Sinter Sud product line to Castlebar's already expansive carbide offerings, will greatly increase product availability for tool makers across the U.S.

ProShop USA, Bellingham, Washington, is donating ProShop ERP software to the student-run Eagle Manufacturing business at Brown County High School in Nashville, Indiana.

Kennametal's five-flute, high-velocity aluminum roughing solid-carbide endmill — the KOR 5 — is said to increase table feed rates up to 66% compared to commonly used three-flute tools.

Kennametal debuts two new PCBN insert grades with double-sided inserts for materials up to 65 HRC. The KBH10B and KBH20B PCBN grades are said to deliver high productivity and long tool life when turning tool steels and other hardened materials.

Kennametal's latest addition to its HARVI line of high-performance solid endmills, the HARVI I TE 4-flute solid-carbide endmill features a radical new design.

Kennametal Inc. has developed a 3D-printed Stator Bore Tool to meet growing customer demand for lighter weight tooling solutions used to machine components for hybrid and electric vehicles.