Cutting Tools
Thread Milling On A Tiny Scale
Machining internal threads in difficult materials is challenging, especially when hole diameters are small. Thread milling offers advantages for these applications that are important to consider.
WatchAluminum-Hogging End Mills Reduce Part Costs
Kennametal’s MaxiMet end mills are designed for aerospace and general engineering shops seeking to improve performance in machining high volumes of aluminum. According to the company, the cutters are suitable for applications that require both high metal removal rates and quality wall and floor finishes. The cutters feature a flute design that is said to enable high feed rates by providing rigidity behind the cutting edges.
Read MoreEnd Mills Feature High Performance, Long Tool Life
Designed to replace multiple tools used for roughing, semi-finishing, slotting and profiling, Hanita’s VariMill II family of solid-carbide end mills is suited for high-temperature alloys, nickel- and carbon-based alloys and titanium. Available from Kennametal, the tools feature five unequally spaced flutes, a patented flute form and end geometry and AlTiN coating that enables heavy cuts and long tool life, the company says. The end mill geometries are designed to virtually eliminate chatter and harmonics to allow slotting at cutting depths of 1 × D and perform side-milling operations at redial and axial cutting depths ranging to 0.
Read MoreModular Drill Diameter Range Expands
The Ken TIP modular drill system from Kennametal features various solid-steel bodies (3 × D, 5 × D and 8 × D, among others) and replaceable drill points for precision hole-making in steel. The modular design allows users to keep the drill bodies in a machine or holder and replace drill points as needed. Running at speeds comparable to those of solid carbide drills, the system offers high metal removal rates compared to common modular drills and reduces setup times, the company says.
Read MoreModular Drills Combine Benefits Of Indexable Tools
Kennametal says its KSEM Plus modular drills combine the high feed rates and length/diameter capabilities of modular drills with the high speed and low consumable costs of indexable drills. The drills offer increased metal removal rates and productivity in various applications, including the energy market. The drill bodies accept a range of head diameters, and inserts or heads can be replaced without removing the body from the spindle.
Read MoreOne Insert Design Machines A Variety Of Materials
Kennametal’s Mill 1-10 tooling platform performs common machining applications such as face milling, shoulder milling, pocketing, slotting, interpolating and ramping for steels, aluminum and exotics, all with one common insert style. The tooling platform accomplishes this through the use of multifunctional cutter bodies and First Choice inserts, which consist of different grades and edge preps for various work materials but utilize the same cutting geometry and size. Cutter bodies come in straight and helical flute styles.
Read MoreInserts Offer Long Life, Tight Tolerances
Kennametal has added screw-on, positive chipbreaker inserts to its Beyond line, which includes 11 grades for improved productivity in steel, stainless steel and cast iron turning applications. The chipbreaker inserts, which include the FP (finishing positive), MP (medium/roughing positive) and MW (flat top) models, are said to provide significant tool life savings across a range of applications and materials. Additionally, the inserts’ tight dimensional tolerances can improve indexability, the company says.
Read MoreHelical Cutters Increase Milling Versatility, Performance
Mill 1-14 helical cutters from Kennametal are designed for greater axial depth of cut than a standard end mill, the company says. The flexible cutter range features inserts stacked two, three and four high. The helical cutters can be used for medium to heavy roughing and semi-finishing in applications such as contour profiling, slotting, ramping, helical ramping from solid and plunge milling.
Read MoreTool Management System Reduces Costs, Downtime
Ineffective tool management can drive up costs and reduce efficiency even at the most high-tech, successful shops. With WinWare’s CribMaster Accu-Cab inventory management system, this aerospace manufacturer reduced costs, downtime and stock-outs resulting from missing or misplaced tools. In fact, meeting its return on investment (ROI) goals took only a few months.
Read MoreInsert Drills Cut Varied Materials
KUB Pentron line of drills provides length-to-diameter ratios of 5 × D. The system is equipped with two square inserts that have four effective cutting edges each. The internal and external inserts have exactly the same shape.
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