Face Mill Achieves Full Engagement in CGI

Kennametal’s Mill 16 face mill is designed to tackle tough cast iron applications. The Mill 16 has a fine-pitch and medium-pitch cutter body equipped with a single-screw, wedge-style clamping system. This reduces setting time in the tool crib and ensures rigid, no-fail tool placement, the company says. Each pocket on the cutter body is numbered, as are each of the insert’s cutting edges, promoting accuracy and ease of use when indexing to a new cutting edge.

The heart of the Mill 16 is an octagonal, double-sided insert with 16 effective cutting edges. The face of each cutting edge contains an aggressive chip-breaker for positive cutting action and increased chip flow. The wedge clamp on either side of the insert’s top face is likewise chamfered to improve chip evacuation.

The tool is available in diameters ranging from 2" to 10" (50 to 250 mm). Kennametal has rated the maximum axial depth of cut (Ap1) at 5.5 mm (0.216"), although depths to 9 mm (0.35") or greater are possible. According to the company, low cutting forces facilitate machining at 100-percent radial engagement. All cutters have internal coolant supply capability.

The carbide itself is Kennametal’s KCK20 grade, which comprises a PVD AlTiN/AlTiCrN multilayer coating bonded to a wear-resistant substrate that’s said to prolong tool life.

An assortment of insert edge preps, geometries and corner radii as well as several complementary grades are available to ensure performance in a variety of machining conditions, from heavy roughing to semi-finishing and fine finishing to Ra 3.2 microns or better.