Cutting Tools & Tooling

As new composite materials are developed, parts manufacturers face new challenges when routing them. Fortunately, cutting tool manufacturers continually develop new solutions so parts manufacturers are not forced to cut tomorrow's composites with outdated routers.

Seco Tools has expanded its family of PCBN insert grades to cover the entire spectrum of hard turning applications. Using a new bimodal substrate and nanolaminate coating process, these new inserts extend tool life and increase productivity in a broader range of applications.

Walter Surface Technologies announces the introduction of SST (Super Speed Tip) drill bits in the United States.

ARNO USA, Harvard, Ill., has hired Kevin S. McCabe as the company's new Regional Technical Support Engineer for the Midwest region of the country. McCabe will provide technical sales, engineering and training activities for ARNO USA's range of cutting tools over a four-state territory that includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Missouri.

The Star Cutter Co., Farmington Hills, Mich., plans to mark its 90th anniversary throughout 2017 by reflecting on the company's past and future. Founded in 1927 by Howard B. Lawton and Frank Burgess, Star Cutter is a fourth-generation, family owned business and one of the oldest Michigan-based manufacturing companies.

The latest release of VISI, Vero Software's specialist mold and die solution, delivers a number of user experience enhancements and addresses an issue that is often neglected, but that can have an important effect on the final shape of a formed sheet-metal component.

Tungaloy Corp. is expanding its DoTriple-Mill series to include pressed-to-size inserts in Class M dimensional tolerance, to further strengthen its position in the facemilling market. DoTriple-Mill is Tungaloy's latest facemill series, in which any set of square, octagonal or round inserts can be fit on a single cutter body.

Walter has expanded the capabilities of its popular Walter BLAXX M3024 heptagon milling cutter with new wiper inserts. The inserts, which have two right-hand and two left-hand cutting edges, were specifically developed for the Walter BLAXX M3024, and allow it to be used for finishing operations.

Controx presents the Panel Cut line of tools, which reportedly allow feed rates up to 400 ipm for maximum productivity and a clean surface finish. Designed specifically for machining lightweight composite sandwich panels, these shank tools employ sophisticated tool geometry to drill through sandwich panels with no delamination on the glass or carbon fiber skins or flagging of the honeycomb in between.

Emuge Corp. has announced the expansion of its MultiTAP line, high-performance taps designed to cut a range of materials, including carbon steel, steel alloys, stainless steel, aluminum, cast iron, copper, brass and bronze. With 87 new SKUs, the Emuge MultiTAP line comprises an expansive offering of both regular and extended-length spiral-point and spiral-flute taps, as well as roll form taps.

LACH DIAMOND says its newly developed PCD twist drill type PS saves up to 75 percent of time by reducing three previously necessary steps to one process. The new PCD twist drill completes piloting, drilling and reaming all in one "shot."