Milling

A metal blisk or heat exchanger component can certainly be aesthetically pleasing, but those and the vast majority of other machined metal parts serve a practical function first and foremost. The metal parts Chris Bathgate machines don't.

Moore Nanotechnology Systems ("Nanotech") has released its next generation NanoCAM4 software package with enhanced capabilities. Nanotech's latest product release has been years in the making. Comprehensive, yet easy to use, NanoCAM4 (N4) brings a significantly high level of accuracy and programming functionality to the ultraprecision optical market.

To boost the first-stage roughing operation on newly cast aluminum parts for the automotive industry, cutting tool and tooling systems specialist Sandvik Coromant is introducing its M5Q90 tangential milling cutter. Designed to complete "cubing" (first machining of faces after casting) in a single operation without creating burrs, the new tool is fitted with PCD tangential inserts that provide a smooth and stable cutting action to lower power consumption and eliminate vibration. This concept ensures reliable performance, improved tool life, exceptional surface finish, high metal-removal rate and an increased number of parts per insert.

Almost every machine shop uses facemills for roughing, semifinishing and finishing, but many of these shops miss out on increased material-removal rates because they run yesterday's tooling on today's machine tools. The larger spindle tapers and higher horsepower ratings, feeds and speeds of modern machines need to run with the latest in facemilling cutter and insert technology to maximize a machine's facemilling potential and thus significantly speed up production, increase efficiency and reduce cost per part, especially on larger workpieces.

Expand existing capacity or turn down orders? Many companies are caught in this dilemma. Every time a company turns down an order, it risks losing that customer and potential orders. If the company has no alternative but to accept new orders, at some point the existing machines will reach their limits. What then?

Designed for machining thin-walled aluminum automotive parts without burring, scratching or chipping, the patent-pending M5F90 facemilling cutter is being released by Sandvik Coromant. The two-in-one M5F90 cutter features an design that allows roughing and finishing in a single operation, delivering shorter and more efficient machining strategies.

Walter has expanded its milling program with additions that allow the universal, square system inserts of its versatile M4000 milling line to be used in its F2010 program, which is a milling family that utilizes a replaceable and adjustable cartridge.

A robust spindle maintenance plan helps avoid unexpected repair bills and days or even weeks of downtime.

HEIDENHAIN's newest digital readout (DRO) is now available to the market and promises to provide machinists with significant advantages and even more reliable tools to better utilize their manually operated machine tools (with up to four axes) than ever before. Called the ND 7013 model, this new DRO replaces the ever-popular ND 780 and offers an improved user interface and user-friendly touch screen, among other improvements.

On Dec. 3 Clinkenbeard relocated to a 40,000-square-foot facility in South Beloit, Ill.

Shops that struggle to maximize end-mill tool life when machining tough materials can now achieve 25 to 40 percent longer life with new Jabro-Solid2 JS750 endmills from Seco Tools. Designed specifically for the aerospace sector, the new JS754 and JS755 tools provide cost-effective high performance to tackle that industry's challenging materials, including ISO M (stainless steel) and S (heat-resistant superalloys and titanium).

Today's facemills can help shops handle difficult-to-machine materials for automotive and aerospace applications.