Machining

Say "EDM" and most manufacturing folks think mold, tool and die work. Yet sinker, wire and hole-popping EDMs are often employed in conjunction with, or as alternatives to, traditional part-making processes, such as milling and turning.

Lasers are good for far more than slicing sheet metal and defending against alien space invaders. Without them, many of today's high-tech products would be impossible to manufacture. Microfluidic devices, integrated circuits, medical stents and catheters, automotive fuel injector nozzles are all drilled, milled, surface-textured and ablated via laser micromachining.

Two rotary axes beat 2' of stacked linear axes. That's the idea behind the new Twin Turret Generator (TTG) machine tools from Cranfield Precision. According to the company, the TTG machine offers a stiff and thermally stable design that improves machining precision and repeatability.

Arevo Labs hopes its new RAMP leads to better 3D-printed componets for the defense and aerospace industries. Arevo touts RAMP (Robot-based Additive Manufacturing Platform) as the first system of its kind optimized for 3D printing of composite thermoplastic parts. The system includes a 6-axis robot arm and end-effector hardware for deposition.

Early in my stint here, I called Alan Baker, founder of toolmaker A.B. Tools Inc., in connection with an article I was writing about thread milling small-diameter holes. I started the interview with a general question about available thread mills sizes for these applications and was encouraged to first gather that information from Machinery's Handbook and then call him back.

Walter has introduced the Tiger·tec Silver grade WSM45X, creating an indexable inserts with high-temperature resistance, improved wear resistance, outstanding toughness, and exceptional hardness. These key features of inserts in the new Tiger·tec Silver grade WSM45X can boost performance by up to 67 percent over comparable tools, according to the company.

In addition to having the newest machine and software solutions from Walter for processing PCD cutting tools, West Ohio Tool continues to refurbish existing machine tools. The latest Walter tool grinding capabilities rebuilt onto an existing machine tool offers additional flexibility and increased capabilities in tool design and quality.

Star CNC Machine Tool Corp. introduced the 10-axis SR-38/B, which it says sets a new standard in the machining of complex, large-diameter parts by offering greater capacity and capability. With the efficient Star Motion control system, B-axis versatility and an 8-spindle back working unit, the SR-38/B accommodates very complex geometries in one operation with the precision and accuracy required by quality critical applications across a variety of industries.

Offering high productivity and a low cost per edge, the CoroMill 745 from Sandvik Coromant has a double-sided, multiedge design that is ideal for large batch productions. With its tilted insert positioning system and sharp cutting edges, this milling cutter offers a light cutting action at low power consumption.

The Umill 1800 from Mecof, part of EMCO Group, offers milling and turning solutions designed to meet the needs of mold makers, aerospace, automotive, and precision engineering users by offering precision, high dynamics, operational flexibility, and cost-effectiveness.

Using the proven and time-tested Shefcut reamer design, Cogsdill now adds a new twist. Shefcut precision reamers and fine boring tools have always been designed to produce accurately sized, extremely straight and round bores, with fine surface finishes, according to the company.

GF Machining Solutions, , will purchase micromanufacturing machine builder Microlution Inc., Chicago, according to a comany news release issued May 11. Described as a specialist of micro-machining based on milling and laser technologies, Microlution was founded in 2005 and reportedly generated $10 million in 2015 with a workforce of 30 employees.