Horn Tooling Boosts Pipe and Coupling Machining Performance

Horn USA says its efforts toward continuous development of customer-focused tool solutions have enabled it to create cost-effective machining solutions for use in API-compliant, GOST-compliant and premium joint applications. The company says it emphasizes handling, service life and cost per threaded connection, and recommends its in-house product management department for designing and delivering both standard and customer-specific tools within the pipe and coupling production market.

Horn’s product portfolio offers tool systems with standard machine interfaces including VDI, polygonal shank and round shank holders, as well as solutions that are flange-mounted on turrets. The development team adapted the tools to meet requirements for differing levels of automation — from manual loading to fully automated production.

The screw clamp and ground chip formers of the S117 and 315 systems can manage chip removal during coupling and pipe end machining processes, and do not require the installation of chip breakers or shims. Horn says these two systems demonstrate precise interchangeability, reducing the number of necessary tool adjustments after changing inserts. While thread-cutting in API- and GOST-compliant materials, the S117’s multiple teeth minimize the number of cuts, while the 315 system’s three usable cutting edges reduce costs.

Horn also offers milling heads that can handle finish machining for applications involving pipes with profiles that comply with ANSI/API-5L standards. These heads can machine pipe ends with wall thicknesses up to 50 mm, with integrated rollers compensating for any roundness errors.

The M101 cut-off milling system is a purpose-developed tool for pipe end machining after rolling, and which Horn says is also useful for pipe and sleeve assembly and for separating sections for analysis. S101 self-clamping inserts, which Horn offers in cutting widths of 2 mm and above, deliver what the company says is precise interchangeability, accuracy in cuts and shorter machining times.