Machining

To maximize the full benefit of recent advances in machine tool designs, Chevin Tools Inc. has developed a new range of boring bar, turning and blade toolholders (parting and grooving applications). Delivering high-pressure coolant directly through the cutting tip of static tools enables significant improvements in cutting efficiency and improves production.

ESPRIT 2016 from DP Technology Corp. features a new innovative high speed lathe roughing strategy, called ProfitTurning that implements ESPRIT's new physics-based cutting engine. While traditional cutting strategies only consider the geometry of the part, ProfitTurning creates the toolpath considering multiple cutting factors and machine characteristics that impact machining performance.

With more and more machines utilizing shrink-fit and hydraulic holders, Hannibal Carbide Tool has extended the size range in its existing standard offering and added both right and left spiral to its h6 reamer series. All h6-style reamers now go up to 1" diameter.

Soft jaw blanks from Dillon Jaws feature a milled surface on the jaw end, opposite to the clamping surface, which serves as an easy-locating feature. This datum serves as a location point for positioning the counter-bored holes and the jaws' serrations resulting in exact dimensional matching of Dillon jaw sets.

The latest positive axial rake, high-feed cutter from Dormer Pramet allows it to be applied with multiple materials across various applications. The Pramet Penta HF is an aggressive high-feed cutter suitable for machining a variety of materials, including heat-treated and difficult-to-machine steels, stainless steels and heat-resistant superalloys (HRSA).

Traditional manual indexable tool repair methods can place limitations on the feasibility of repairing more than moderate pocket damage. GKI says its process using 4- and 5-axis CNC machines removes the damage completely and replaces it with new metal, resulting in a superior-quality tool while enhancing GKI's ability to repair tooling that other repair houses would likely turn away as "beyond repair."

Additive manufacturing (AM) will neither displace existing machining processes nor revolutionize industrial production operations—at least not for the next 5 to 7 years, according to Myron Graw, an AM authority who spoke at METAV 2016, the 19th International Exhibition for Metalworking (Metallverarbeitung) Technologies. Graw, who heads up AM operations at KEX Knowledge Exchange AG, in Aachen, Germany, wasn't just sharing his personal opinion. He was delivering the results of a five-stage AM study conducted by KEX, the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology and the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology, according to a news release posted to the METAV 2016 website Feb. 23.

Bumotec has launched the s181 turn-mill center, a compact cost effective multifunction machine targeted at industries such as micromechanic, aerospace, medical and surgical instruments, as well as watch and jewelry. Derived from the well-known Bumotec s191 linear CNC turn-mill center, the new s181 is a 5- to 9-axis unit targeted at single-setup machining of complex and high-precision workpieces.

Machinery's Handbook from Industrial Press Inc.. is an authoritative, comprehensive and practical tool, providing its users with fundamental and essential aspects of manufacturing practices. It is a must-have reference for mechanical, manufacturing, and industrial engineers, designers, draftsmen, toolmakers, machinists, engineering and technology students, and the serious home hobbyist, according to the publisher.

Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence launched its latest system software release and a new Ethernet Real Time Feature Pack (RTFP) for the Leica Absolute Tracker AT960 and AT930. This combination delivers a 7DOF measurement solution designed to empower Factory of the Future applications, such as laser tracker-based machine control and robotic guidance.

Walter has introduced a new version of its Walter Prototyp Proto▪maxST high-performance, solid-carbide milling tool designed for optimal performance on steel with secondary applications in stainless steel. This new entry in the Walter Prototyp lineup is called the Proto·maxST Z-5, available with the same tough yet wear-resistant TAZ coating that is offered in the original 3- and 4-flute variations of the Proto·maxST.

JETCAM announced the launch of Version 19 of its Expert CADCAM and nesting software, featuring several major new features and hundreds of improvements across the software. Several features focus around nesting. Multi-sheet nesting takes advantage of JETCAM's powerful high-performance nesting module to nest parts across multiple sheets at a time, drastically improving overall material efficiency while taking less time to generate the nests.