General Machining & Manufacturing Processes

Transor Filter USA offers a line of central oil filtration systems for tool and cutter grinders. The units can be expanded by adding a filter module that consists of three filter vessels, filter pump and plumbing. Model V9 can service up to 10 grinders, and the system can incorporate three additional machines by adding a module. The systems filter to a 1µm level, control oil temperature and automate sludge handling.

Microcut Inc.'s line of miniature carbide endmills are from 0.002" to 0.125" (0.051mm to 3.175mm) in diameter and are available with long shanks and long reaches. The company offers AlTiN- and diamond-coated endmills and special rotary cutting tools, including thread mills, keyseat cutters, double-angle cutters, microdrills, spotting drills and dovetail cutters.

OSG USA Inc. offers the EXOPRO AERO-D-REAM drill/reamer for cutting carbon and glass-fiber composites. The tool has a tapered 4-flute design to limit peel-up at the hole entrance and an elongated, double-angle geometry to reduce thrust and limit exit delamination. Compared to its uncoated counterpart, the standard diamond-coated tool drilled 14 times the number of holes and provided better hole quality, according to company tests. The diamond-coated tool did not exhibit margin wear after 180 holes.

Heule Tool Corp.'s VEX-P tool combines a replaceable, solid-carbide, high-performance drill tip and the company's SNAP chamfering system to enable drilling and front and back chamfering in one operation. The cutting geometry creates short chips when machining steel, aluminum and other long-chipping materials and has a helix gullet for chip evacuation. The TiAlN-coated drill tip is self-centering. The tool is available from 11.0mm to 17.0mm (0.433" to 0.669") in diameter.

FMT beveling tools from Fastenal Co. are for cutting inside and outside bevels, pipe beveling, countersinking and generating radius paint edges. The spark-free, heat-free tools enable users to make head changes in 30 seconds. The electric FMT Bevel Mate is capable of bevel depths up to ½" (12.7mm), and the pneumatic FMT Bevel Mite is capable of bevel depths up to ¼" (6.4mm).

Manufactured by Kaiser Tool Co., the THINBIT GROOVE 'N TURN line includes Dovetail grooving inserts and Static O-Ring Grooves. The inserts are for machining O-ring dovetail grooves with 66° undercut angles. According to the company, the insert design is optimized for strength by using a left/OD and right/ID insert pair to generate the groove form. Static O-Ring Grooves are available in OD and face grooving styles.

Rani Tool Corp. offers German-made PCD inserts with CB3 chipbreakers from Becker Diamond Tools. The chipbreaker has a semiserrated wave profile on the flanks of the cutting point, which increases the material-removal rate and produces short, controlled chips. The inserts are suitable for machining with flood coolant or minimal-quantity lubrication.

SwiftCARB offers a complete line of straight-shank and shell-mill indexable-insert corner rounders. According to the company, the tools increase cutting speeds and feed rates by 25 percent, and the tools' inserts can be changed quickly, which enhances efficiency. The company stocks more than 70 radii, from 0.010" to 1" and from 1mm to 25mm.

Kyocera Precision Tools Inc. says positive-style inserts with its WP chipbreaker and a wiper cutting edge impart fine surface finishes at low cutting forces. The chipbreaker stabilizes chip conditions at low feed rates, controls excess chip breaking during high-feed and high-load machining and prevents tearing of the finished surface by controlling adhesion. The inserts are for machining steel and stainless steel and are available in a variety of CVD- and PVD-coated grades.

Nachi America Inc. says its Aqua Drill EX Flat series provides one-step drilling. The drill eliminates the need for a center drill or endmill on inclined or curved surfaces. The 180° flat cutting edge creates a minimal exit burr. The tools feature the Aqua EX coating for enhanced heat and wear resistance. New fractional sizes will be available in May.