tooling
Mike Waring notes that the ever closer relationship between tool
holding and insert suppliers and the machine tool builders is
increasingly reflected in the migration of the leading tooling players
at MACH exhibitions into Hall 5.
On the front line
www.coromant.sandvik.com
www.iscar.co.uk
www.kennametal.com
www.secotools.com/uk
www.sgstool.com
www.walter-ag.de
www.vargus.com
www.phorn.co.uk
www.gewefa.co.uk
www.wntuk.com
www.lmt-tools.com
FOR Kim Olander, Senior Manager, Business
Operations of Sandvik Coromant UK, ‘Hall 5 is the place to
be - because tooling suppliers these days work so closely
with the machine tool builders that there is a very strong
correlation between the two and it is logical to exhibit
alongside each other.’ That said, the Hall 4 Tooling Zone
still had plenty to offer and though more specialised in
many cases, was well populated by tooling engineers.
An example was Vargus Tooling UK which exhibited a
range of threading products including its new V6 thread
turning insert. Offering a 6-setting corner system - double
that of conventional systems - the V6 can be supplied in a
variety of external/internal styles for partial 60 and 50
degree tasks and the creation of multiple pitches. Vargus
also featured the ‘Thriller’ tool for the first time; a high
performer which, it’s claimed, enables drilling, chamfering
and thread milling with a single tool.
Back in Hall 5, new attractions from WNT included its
WTX Change series, which blends the advantages of solid
carbide drilling with the versatility of a replaceable head
system. A ‘radial tooth’ interface between the solid carbide
drill head and the drill body ensures that maximum torque
is transmitted in a safe, accurate and reliable fashion and
that maximum feed rates can be achieved according to
specific applications. Also new was the WTX Solid Carbide
Drill, a high performance drill particularly suited to
machining aluminium but equally adept with other nonferrous
materials such as copper or brass. With cutting
speeds up to 400m/min and feed rates of 0.7mm/rev, high
performance machining of delicate components will be
less of a problem.The solid carbide ACR end mills are of
particular interest to the aerospace industry where up to
70% of the parent material is removed. Features include
optimised cutter geometry, flutes designed to create
maximum volume for swarf removal and an extremely
fine micro-grain carbide with ‘in flute’ coolant supply.
Walter’s ‘power of three’ offering included Walter
indexable tooling, Titex drills and Prototyp solid carbide
and HSS taps, end mills and thread milling tools. Walter’s
Tiger.tec is the world’s first PVD aluminium oxide grade
offering up to 75% more components per edge. The grade is
now available in ISO indexable inserts for turning and
milling. Prototyp was introducing its Paradur Ti Plus and
Prototex Tini Plus taps for machining aerospace titanium
alloys while Titex took the opportunity to introduce
X.treme, a double coated solid carbide drill that promises
double tool life on steel and cast iron applications.
On the Heller stand, LMT (UK) was demonstrating
54 MWP july 2008
productivity in action. Using seven of LMT’s latest tool
developments machining a tough P20 tool steel work piece
on a Heller H2000 HMC, the demonstration covered
roughing, finishing, copy milling, drilling, thread
forming and high speed milling. LMT also introduced a
new generation of multi-functional Pentatec indexable
cutting tools fitted with Trigon carbide inserts. This
combination can drill holes as small as 8mm diameter
from solid, making it the world’s smallest indexable insert
drill. LMT also claims that the Pantatec system can save up
to 30% on cycle times by eliminating multiple tool changes.
Versatility means it’s a standard workshop tool
Sandvik Coromant majored on the first of a new
generation of shoulder mills - the CoroMill 490 - which it
says offers reductions in machining costs by up to 25%. Very
high quality finish with minimum passes are its features,
being ideal for applications such as near net shape precision
forgings and castings where minimal but more precise
work is required. This is achieved with the four edge insert
design and it substantially reduces the cost per component.
The maximum depth of cut is 5.5mm with 4mm the
optimum recommended. CoroMill 490’s versatility could
make it a standard workshop milling tool, replacing
multiple tool stocks and simplifying production control.
The end result is lower costs for face and shoulder milling;
it can also be used for contouring, edging and slot milling.
Also new on the Coromant stand was CoroThread
which features a new insert locking interface that keeps the
insert rigid, maintaining the correct threading profile and
thereby reducing out-of-specification product rejection. It
is impossible to misfit the insert or for it to move, leading to
extended tool and holder life, less downtime for tool
changes and greater continuity of production. CoroThread
is expected to find applications in the oil and gas
component industry and it is first launched for 22mm and
27mm insert sizes.
Kennametal introduced a wide range of new products
ranging from turning insert grades, new geometries,
multi-station tools and a range of Widia products. Pride of
place in the turning grades was the KC9125 for steel
machining and KC9320 for cast iron turning. Productivity
claims for KC9105 are impressive - up to 40% higher metal
removal rates - achieved by a combination of new substrate
and new post coat treatments that prolong tool life through
reduced chip hammering and built-up edge. The KC9320
grade offers between 30 and 50% improved wear
resistance with greater strength and reliability for wet
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