Cutting Tools & Tooling

March U.S. cutting tool consumption totaled $200.05 million according to the U.S. Cutting Tool Institute (USCTI) and AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology. This total, as reported by companies participating in the Cutting Tool Market Report (CTMR) collaboration, was up 14.3% from February's $174.98 million and up 8.4% when compared with the total of $184.57 million reported for March 2016.

Hwacheon Machinery America Inc.'s new Hi-M G1 vertical machining center is specially designed to cut graphite. Its quick and precise performance makes it an ideal choice for dry cutting graphite electrode material used in die mold work, according to the company.

The advanced MicroTools for precise internal turning and copying operations.

Walter has added to its range of solid-carbide milling cutters with the introduction of its MC232 Perform product line. This versatile, cost-effective new cutter type is available with 2, 3 or 4 flutes, in a diameter range of 1/8 in. to 5/8 in. (2 to 20 mm).

Seco Tools released two new solid-carbide endmills that significantly boost metal-removal rates and offer exceptionally long tool life for a variety of today's challenging workpiece materials. The Jabro-HFM JHF181 is suitable for high-feed milling strategies in hardened steels and nickel-based alloys, while the Jabro-Solid2 JS564 and JS565 represent Seco's continued focus on developing tools for optimized roughing strategies for materials such as steels, stainless steels and titanium alloys.

Allied Machine & Engineering announces its new GEN3SYS XT Pro line of high-penetration drilling products. The product line features enhanced holders and inserts with three unique geometries, and two advanced coatings.

Bob Warfield of the CNCCookbook.com addresses tool life issues when micromachining in the third episode of The CNC Chef, a new video series from Cutting Tool Engineering. In this episode, Warfield takes a close look at tool runout, which he says is the No. 1 issue for tool life problems when micromachining.

A pneumatic saw and clamp system that eliminates torch cutting and lets users produce clean accurate cuts on thick steel plate fast with no heat affect zone (HAZ) is available from ESCO Tool. ESCO's APS-438 air-powered saw and Quick-Clamp sets up fast using a 2"-wide steel track and has two wedge-style clamps that attach to steel plate up to 15' wide by 3.5" thick and accepts the saw.

At the first general session of NTMA's annual meeting near Jacksonville, FL, Chris Kaiser, President/CEO of BIG KAISER, presented a donation for $4,100 to benefit the NTMA's National Robotics League (NRL).

Carmex Precision Tools LLC has introduced a versatile six-edge turning insert. Designed to fit one holder, the multiple-function inserts deliver high productivity and cost efficiency in applications including threading, grooving, parting, and back and front turning. The fully ground profile delivers high precision, and the unique shape provides strong and stable clamping.

Steiner Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of back boring tools, continues to expand its portfolio with a new reverse machining product line. Offered in partnership with German manufacturer Hermann Bilz, the new "Bilz" line offers manufacturers a wide variety of standard reverse boring solutions that are available for immediate shipment from the U.S.

PFERD INC. has introduced TITANIUM cut burs, the latest addition to its high-performance Carbide Bur line-up. TITANIUM cut is specially designed for machining hard titanium alloys (with tensile strength greater than 500 N/mm2). With an innovative tooth geometry, TITANIUM cut generates stock removal rates up to 60% higher than conventional cross-cut burs, according to the company.