Milling

To prepare factories for an increasingly digital future, and to better support Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing initiatives, DP Technology is focusing on a range of solutions to drive automation in manufacturing. The ESPRIT CAM system enables manufacturers to streamline their workflows, prevent silos from forming during the manufacturing process, increase tool life and machine utilization, and create greater access to practical knowledge for process improvement.

Sandvik Coromant has unveiled a new, high-feed version of the CoroMill 745 facemilling cutter, featuring a 25° entering angle for additional productivity gains when milling steel and cast iron workpieces. The new, high-feed version facilitates even higher metal-removal rates in applications with depths of cut up to 2.8 mm (0.110 inch).

A milestone for the digital transformation: thyssenkrupp connects the machinery of the materials division via a new digital platform. Thanks to toii Industrial Internet of Things platform, all machines can communicate with each other. Due to predictive maintenance, the platform is also supposed to forecast the necessity of machine services in the future.

Walter has introduced the M2136, a multitooth close-pitch finishing cutter that features a high degree of process reliability coupled with superior cost effectiveness, particularly with cast iron, thanks in part to its eight cutting edges per insert.

Trochoidal milling is a relatively new cutting strategy that involves the overlapping of circular toolpaths with linear movement. It is well-suited for difficult-to-machine materials and thin-walled components.

An item in the Look Ahead department of the August 2017 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine features large-volume, high-accuracy robots.

A heavy-duty ID clamping pipe milling end prep tool that can J-prep bevel, face and bore all hard pipe alloys in preparation for orbital welding is available from ESCO Tool. The Esco Prepzilla Millhog ID clamping end prep tool is offered with a wide selection of cutting blades, including a J-preparation blade that creates a consistent contoured radius and clean neck for orbital welding.

The latest release of the Surfcam solution, by Vero Software, introduces a new turning cycle that includes B-axis movements while machining on a turning center. This new feature in Surfcam 2017 R2 allows greater accessibility when machining complex profiles by dynamically positioning the insert.

The HCN-16000Q horizontal machining center from Mazak Corp. features a double-column, quill-head design that enables the machine to perform the operations of both an HMC and a traditional boring machine. This means the machine provides processing flexibility and helps reduce part setups because it allows manufacturers to perform both deep bore and milling applications all on the same machine platform.

TNC contouring controls from HEIDENHAIN are popular with users thanks to their workshop-oriented operational design and conversational programming. And now, HEIDENHAIN's compact TNC 620 control combines its advantages of HEIDENHAIN contouring controls with the latest in touchscreen technology.

Highly versatile, the Palmgren universal horizontal milling machine can handle both horizontal and vertical milling, making it an ideal solution for just about every milling application, according to the company. The vertical spindle head attachment can quickly transform the horizontal machine to a vertical one.

The new R220.88 facemilling cutter family from Seco features inserts with eight cutting edges and optimized geometries that provide excellent tool life and reduced cutting forces. The cutter body's 88-degree lead angle allows for large depths of cut with smaller insert sizes, as compared to 45-degree lead angle facemills.