When San Antonio-based job shop Anthony Machine purchased a pair of NLX 3000 1250 universal turning centres from CNC machine builder DMG Mori – the company’s first Y-axis, live-tool lathes – the team was challenged with making the most of its new investment.

Long-term tooling partner Kennametal explained to Anthony that the best way to reduce set-up times and maximise the new machines’ potential would be to equip them with Turret Adapted Clamping Units (TACU) and KM-series quick-change tool holders.
According to Anthony Machine manufacturing technologist Daniel Goller, the decision to adopt TACU and KM for the new machines was an easy one. “Over the years, we’ve built a number of KM-equipped custom tool holders for deep boring and other machining operations on our CNC lathes and machining centres, and we use Kennametal on several of the shop’s manual turret lathes to overcome limitations with available tool positions. On more than one occasion, we’ve earned new business because KM was able to achieve tolerances and surface finishes that others couldn’t do with conventional tooling.”
Anthony’s operations manager Mohsen Saleh agrees: “The differences are striking. Compared to the traditional wedge and screw-style blocks that come standard on most machines, the KM-equipped TACU units are both faster and more accurate. We routinely hold tolerances of 0.013 mm and I’m told that part size doesn’t change from one clamping to the next. The turret’s less crowded, everything’s easier to get at, and you don’t have the chatter and deflection that you often find with your typical straight shank tools and set-screw type boring bar holders.”
For further information www.kennametal.com

The TurnTenFeed series of tools for turning operations has been introduced by Tungaloy.

This newly developed tool holder and indexable insert line is now the company’s first choice offer for heavy industrial applications that demand a productive all-rounder.
Designed with a double-sided, 10-cornered M-class insert, TurnTenFeed can offer cutting depths to 7 mm and a maximum feed per revolution of 2 mm. To attain robust and rigid machining conditions, Tungaloy has introduced two tool-holder configurations: the HF tool holder for high-feed turning and the HD holder for large depths of cut.
Tool holders are available in shank dimensions of 25 or 32 mm square, while a precision seat ensures positional repeatability and clamping stability underpinned by a dovetail clamping system that is designed to improve chip flow. Furthermore, with just a spring pin, lever and clamping screw, TurnTenFeed demonstrates rapid insert changes with positional repeatability.
Tungaloy’s TurnTenFeed tool holders have been developed with a 108° obtuse angle. Although this design has not been developed for machining corners, the material removal capabilities and productivity rates lead to machining efficiency improvements beyond 130%, which are proven under test conditions, says Tungaloy. To achieve such productivity gains, R&D engineers at Tungaloy have introduced an MNW-style chip breaker that features protrusions on the rake face to facilitate smooth and efficient swarf flow, while providing crater and wear resistance. In addition, the 10-sided inserts have been designed with a straight-wiper design that is built into the cutting edge to facilitate higher machining performance and
feed rates.
For further information www.tungaloy.com

Complementary to its trochoidal milling benchmark 5021 series, Industrial Tooling Corporation (ITC) has launched its 5031 series of square-end and corner radius five-flute end mills.

These Cupro-coated stub-length end mills are available in diameters from 3 to 16 mm.
ITC’s 5031 has an overall length from 40 to 72 mm, with a length of cut from 7 to 24 mm. This reduced shank and flute length eliminates vibration and improves machining performance in high material removal applications. These benefits are underpinned by harmonic flute geometry that improves chip evacuation and extends tool life.
The company has also introduced the 5031 series with a range of corner radii for each diameter, from 0.25 and 0.5 mm for the smallest 3 mm diameter cutter, all the way up to a 4 mm radius on the largest 16 mm tool.
Geometry combines with a sub-micron carbide substrate and wear resistant Cupro coating to deliver reduced torque and load on the machine. These benefits are credit to a smooth cutting action that improves swarf evacuation and reduces temperature during machining. The composition of the 5031 series is said to makes it the tool of choice for machining steel and exotic materials that inherently increase temperature and stress on the cutting tool.
For further information www.itc-ltd.co.uk