Turning

Opinions vary on the definition of hard turning. Some industry experts say it's the single-edge cutting of hardened steels from 58 to 68 HRC, while others suggest hard turning begins at 45 HRC and includes hardened irons and superalloys. All, however, agree it presents difficulties but is quite manageable provided the right cutting tools, machine and process parameters are used.

Shop Ingenuity is the first in a planned series of video reports featuring shop innovations. In the debut episode, Cutting Tool Engineering visits with CNC Supervisor Jeffrey Johnson at Tuttle Manufacturing in Barrington, IL. Johnson set out to improve the production time for a part that the shop has been running every other month for a customer who continues to increase the order each time.

Dormer Pramet launches new Pramet chipbreakers and grades. The NF1 and NF2 positive chipbreakers support turning applications in stainless steel while the FF2, FM2 and RM3 chipbreakers support steel and cast iron.

ProfitTurning is a high-speed lathe roughing strategy developed by DP Technology Corp. for OD/ID/face cutting and other tasks. Fast, secure and efficient, it also extends tool life by significantly minimizing wear. Compared to conventional ramping methods, ProfitTurning reduces machine cycle time as well as the frequency tooling inserts need to be replaced.

Dorner says the new 3200 series conveyor with Intralox Activated Roller Belt (ARB) technology is perfect for moving boxes and packages in merging, diverting and aligning applications. ARB Technology uses low and high friction angled rollers within the belt to help smoothly guide and align items of all sizes.

The PS two-speed gearbox from Stober Drives Inc. features two different options, from a direct drive to customer ratio choice. The 1:1 ratio direct drive can be used for high-speed cutting up to 10,000 rpm.

Kyocera's new CA3-series CVD-coated carbide inserts are for turning cast iron. The CA3-series grades with new K-series chipbreakers have become powerful contenders for gray and nodular cast iron machining applications, according to the company.

The SCHUNK KONTEC KSC-F single-acting clamping vises with fixed jaw, achieves high clamping forces at comparably low torque. Due to the 160 degree "Quick Clamp" force intensifier, workpieces are clamped in less than a second, and the vise is safely locked, making retightening with a torque wrench no longer necessary.

IMTS 2016 featured more tools and systems for the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) than ever, observed Cutting Tool Engineering Editor Alan Richter in his October 2016 Lead Angle column.

Manufacturer Seco Machine primarily serves the railroad industry while seeking to diversify.

The single most significant benefit offered by indexable tools is the ability to renew the cutting edge without having to remove the cutting tool from production.

Five-axis programming is difficult, requires an expensive CAM system and an even more-expensive programmer to sit in front of a computer all day cranking out complicated G code. Right? Not necessarily.