Cutting Tools & Tooling

EXSYS Tool Inc.'s new PRECI-FLEX Compensating Clutch system for Nakamura CNC turning centers enables users to "float" away misalignment between turret drive motors and toolholders, leading to smoother operation, finer surface finishes and longer tool life.

Allen Benjamin Inc. has introduced a line of high performance, application-specific HSSE spiral-flute pipe taps.

Coherent Inc. has expanded its family of industrial ultrafast lasers with the Talisker HE series, whose high energy pulses reportedly enable drilling, cutting and scribing of thicker materials than with other ultrafast lasers.

Mikron Tool SA Agno says it has achieved a quantum leap in milling of stainless steel, titanium, chrome-cobalt alloys and superalloys with the CrazyMill Cool.

Emuge Corp. announced the introduction of an extensive, expanded thread milling program for oil and gas manufacturing applications, including a new line of solid carbide thread mills and insert thread milling systems.

Manufacturers, especially job shops, know better than most the pressures of ever-increasing customer demands and the equally demanding requirements to control costs. Multi-purpose tools have been one method many shops use to bridge the gap — excellent in certain materials and "good enough" in others to get the job done.

Job shops around the world may have business and customer requirements unique to each company, but concerns on how to improve costs and secure more business are common to all. "Shops want more performance options, and at the same time don't want multiple, job- or material-specific tooling solutions tying up their inventory," says Mark Filosemi, global product manager, threading, grooving, and cut-off for WIDIA.

A new electric O.D. clamping end prep tool for use on both thin-wall and heavy-wall tubes with a high percentage of chrome, especially in high purity applications, is being introduced by ESCO Tool.

Due to increased accuracy demands for angle encoders exceeding an inside diameter of 100mm, HEIDENHAIN has developed the EIB 1500 External Interface Box.

When it comes to tool holding, value is all about precision and reliability that will transmit to the finished part. Hardinge says its toolholder collets, bushings and tool holders are designed and engineered for quality and durability.

The chatter or vibration in metal cutting poses an eternal challenge for manufacturers. The ISCAR products of the latest HIGH QLINE family of cutting tools offer an interesting solution: Indexable Milling Insert with an asymmetric shape.

In parting, or cut-off, operations, the objective is to efficiently and securely separate one part of the workpiece from the other. To achieve this, a straight cut is made to a depth that equals the radius of a bar, or workpiece.