Cutting Tools & Tooling

While the latest data on cutting tool orders shows a decline, orders appear to have "found a bottom" and tool suppliers look to the future with the release of a multitude of new tooling, workholding, machine tools and accessories into the marketplace.

DrillForce-Meister uses exchangeable drill tips designed to efficiently open large diameter holes ranging from 20.0 mm to 40.0 mm (.787″ – 1.575″) at a lower cost. With the drill tips being exchangeable, DrillForce-Meister not only eliminates the need for regrinding and recoating, as is the case with solid carbide drills, but also reduces the amount of tool float inventory kept to avoid machine downtime, thus minimizing the overall cost per hole in high volume production lines.

The M2471 milling cutter, ideal for the aerospace and energy industries, boasts a high metal-removal rate even on low-performance machines thanks to its soft cutting geometries and positive cutting characteristics. It brings all the benefits of single-sided round inserts to double-sided round insert cutting. The insert and body are designed so that their overall stability is guaranteed during use of all eight cutting edges.

Machine-Ready Blanks from TCI Precision Metals help shops increase throughput up to 25%. With a single purchase order customer receive custom precision blanks ready to load directly into their CNC machining centers. Precision blanks eliminate the need for in-house sawing, grinding, flattening, squaring operations and outside processing. Each blank arrives deburred, clean and to customer specifications – guaranteed as close as +/- .0005" dimensionally and as close as .002" flatness, squareness, and parallelism.

The Micro End Mills feature a patented neck design with up to 10x diameter, enabling reach into deep contours. For optimal machining performance, a high radial bending strength withstands alternating stress on the cutting edge and relieved neck. The new Emuge end mills offer High Speed Cutting finishing of 2D and 3D contours, and are offered in square, ball nose, and torus end types. Featuring a short, stable cutting geometry, the end mills are available in Solid Carbide and CBN designs.n

Abrasive Technology Inc. discusses how superabrasive grinding wheels and tools with electroplated bonds are able to maintain tight-tolerance forms, provide freer cutting, and hold form or profile from the first cut to the last. In addition, the tools can be stripped and replated.

Tungaloy America Inc. demonstrates the hard turning capabilities of its T-CBN, AH8000 and LX11 insert grades in a two-minute video that runs through a series of turning operations. The video also provides recommendations for which insert grades to use for continuous, light interrupted and heavy interrupted turning applications.

OSG USA Inc. focuses on its AE-VML long flute, anti-vibration carbide endmill in a detailed video replete with cutting demonstrations captured during a live event. The report is one of several "live" videos produced for OSG's YouTube channel that are intended to demonstrate new tools and answer customer questions.

Cutting grooves is one of the more challenging turning operations performed by machinists. Many scrapped parts and broken tools later, Christopher Tate shares important lessons about grooving.

There are cutting tool considerations when machining molds and other complex components using hybrid manufacturing technology.

Sam Roberts has more than two decades of experience in programming and manual and CNC skills, but still remembers the day in 1999 when he was introduced to Mastercam CAD/CAM software (CNC Software Inc., Tolland, Connecticut). As a machinist proficient in G-code, Roberts was impressed with the software.

The drill's patented point thinning, special gashing, and a 143°-point angle provide excellent self- centering capabilities and reduce thrust, keeping the drill running straight even at the highest feed rates. In addition, four margin lands deliver maximum stability when drilling cross holes and inclined exits.n