Machining

Heimatec Inc., a specialist in live tooling for the North American machine tool industry, announced today that it will become part of a new corporation, Platinum Tooling Technologies, Inc.

Mazak Corp. has further enhanced the VTC-300C Vertical Machining Center with the addition of the MAZATROL SmoothG CNC and its suite of SMOOTH TECHNOLOGY software solutions. The new control complements the VTC-300C's full traveling-column design, automatic tool changer and powerful 40-taper spindle, all of which combine to enable fast cycle times and accurate machining for extremely long and heavy workpieces in industries such as construction, agriculture and energy production.

BLM Group USA announces the availability of its all-electric DH4010VGP wire bending machine featuring twin turrets and twin heads capable of doubling productivity and/or completing highly complex wire bending jobs. The DH4010VGP is especially well-suited for medium-to-long part lengths with multiple bends, symmetric parts and parts that close back onto themselves.

KAAST Machine Tools offer the saddle-style F-Grind AH Series high-precision surface grinder. Featuring hardened, ground and PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) coated table guideways, this grinder series offers full stress relieved main parts to enhance rigidity, stability and grinding accuracy. Customers can add the optional AD5 auto down feed system to become three axes fully automated, thereby greatly increasing operational convenience.

Two new drills optimized for drilling aluminum automotive parts have been developed by Sandvik Coromant. Suitable for the machining of components in medium-to-large volumes, CoroDrill 400 and CoroDrill 430 deliver high throughput and low costs, as well as extended tool life and enhanced process security.

To eliminate long face milling cycle times and ensure process security, Seco Tools has introduced new larger LP09 inserts for the company's HighFeed 2 cutter bodies. The new inserts are designed for high-feed milling operations including face, helical interpolation, slotting, side milling, pocketing and plunging, in challenging workpieces often found in the mold and die, aerospace, and oil and gas industries.

Precision grinding results in the material removal of metals of all kinds and crystalline materials of all kinds, i.e. glass, quartz, ceramic, ferrite, abrasives, stone and other materials that cannot be machined with conventional cutting tools. These materials are too hard, abrasive, and require dimensions, tolerances and surface finishes otherwise not achieved easily or cost effectively with any other method.

Sometimes manufacturing can feel like a battle between David and Goliath. But in the era of automation, think Industry 4.0, manufacturers are discovering the advantages to being smaller. Automation technology has leveled the playing field and now smaller means nimble, niche and, for the first time, heading in the same direction as the big guys.

Sandvik Coromant's new grades CB7105 and CB7115 break new ground in hard part turning. The new grades are based on the newest generation Cubic Boron Nitride (CBN) material. This material enhances crater wear resistance and fracture resistance at high cutting speeds in case hardened and induction hardened material.

Robb Hudson, chief executive officer of Mitsui Seiki USA, Inc., took time during IMTS 2018 to reflect on the company's 90th anniversary and discuss the industry factors that led to the development of its new family of Vertex 5-axis hybrid vertical machining/grinding centers.

Brian Norris, president of The Americas for Dormer Pramet, spent a few minutes during IMTS 2018 to guide Cutting Tool Engineering Publisher Dennis Spaeth through a number of product highlights from Precision Twist Drill, Union Butterfield, Dormer and Pramet.

Hardinge announces the expansion of its Swiss-style collets and bushings production cell. Over the past several years, CNC Swiss-type lathes, predominant in medical and electronics applications, have become increasingly popular across a variety of other applications.