New grades facilitate high feeds on tough metals

Horn has introduced two carbide grades for inserts used in its DAH82 and DAH84 high-feed milling systems, enabling their use for a wider range of materials. The expansion gives customers the ability to choose grades best adapted to their applications.

The new SC6A grade is suitable for machining materials in the ISO M group (stainless steels), as well as ISO S materials (superalloys) as a secondary application. The new IG6B grade is for machining ISO P materials (steels), while it is also suitable as a multi-purpose grade for other material categories, as is the pre-existing SA4B substrate.

With eight usable cutting edges, the sintered inserts offer a competitive price per cutting edge and hence economical machining. The positive geometry ensures a soft, quiet cut as well as good chip flow. Notably, the large radius of the insert’s main cutting edge also promotes a soft cut and,alongside an even distribution of cutting forces, ensuring long tool life.

In terms of machining parameters, the maximum cutting depth is 1 mm (DAH82) and 1.5 mm (DAH84). The DAH82 variant is available as an end mill and as a screw-in milling cutter in the following diameters: 20 (z = 2), 25 (z = 3), 32 (z = 4), 35 (z = 4) and 40 mm (z = 5), where z denotes the number of inserts. As a shell mill, it is available in diameters of 40 (z = 5), 42 (z = 5) and 50 mm (z = 6).

For diameters of 50 mm and more, the larger DAH84 system is first choice. The variants are available only as shell mills in the following diameters: 50 (z = 4), 52 (z = 4), 63 (z = 5), 66 (z = 5), 80 (z = 6), 85 (z = 6), 100 (z = 7) and 125 mm (z = 8).
For further information www.phorn.co.uk

MTC offers lifeline to Britishvolt employees

The Coventry-based Manufacturing Technology Centre is providing a lifeline to redundant employees of the collapsed battery manufacturer Britishvolt. In total, the MTC is offering Britishvolt workers with the opportunity to fill more than 50 engineering, manufacturing and supporting roles at its Ansty Park headquarters. The roles available include engineers of all levels, as well as project managers and trainers.

MTC chief people officer, Vicki Sanderson, says the MTC was keen to support the UK manufacturing community: “The UK has long suffered from a shortage of people with the right engineering and associated skills to take the country’s manufacturing industry into the future, so it’s important that these skills are not lost to other sectors.”
For further information www.the-mtc.org

Sustainability in DNA at GFMS

Machine tool manufacturerGF Machining Solutions aims to become a sustainability leader and, to achieve this ambition, has created three inter-connected pillars within its new business strategy.These pillars cover:product sustainability;climate andresource planning; and looking after the wellbeing of its employees. The first pillar requires constant innovation to ensure products and services have sustainable lifecycles, whilethe second pillar translates into decoupling resource consumption from growth. The third pillarhas a focus on creating diverse, engaging and safe workplaces.
For further information www.gfms.com

Innovative tooling at heart of partnership

MSC Industrial Supply Co UK (MSC) and Walter Tools have entered a new supplier partnership focused on ensuring machine shops receive high-precision tooling and value-added service.

“Walter Tools’ focus on innovation and new product development matches closely with MSC’s values of providing products and services of the highest possible standard,” explains James Howarth, head of category management at MSC. “Many industries, from automotive and energy all the way to aerospace, require high-quality suppliers with whom they can work closely; who understand their needs and can recommend the right tools for the job. Walter Tools’ focus on helping customers streamline their processes resonated with MSC and is a key reason behind the forming of this partnership.”
For further information www.mscdirect.co.uk

Ball valve specialist installs IMET bandsaw

Dafram SPA, a specialist in the production of ball valves for the oil industry, chose the IMET XT4 automatic bandsaw to help boost its workflow and production requirements. IMET says it was extremely happy to provide a reliable and efficient working tool to such an important partner in a market (valve construction) where precision is crucial. IMET machines are available in the UK from Addison Saws.

XT series automatic double-column bandsaws offer full material cuts up to 560mm. All the machines of the XT series are equipped with an integrated feeder and 10” touchscreen display that includes automatic cutting parameters and a materials library, allowing users to start a cutting cycle in just few minutes.

Regarding the XT4 model, clamping vices move at the same time to ensure optimum clamping of the material. Furthermore, bars which are not completely straight can advance through the system without issue.All vice pressures are adjustable, while the system also allows the vices to ‘back off’, thus avoiding the blade rubbing on the cut surface during the ascent of the saw frame for the next cut.

TCT bandsaw blades are suitable for this machine and it features hydraulically pressured TCT blade guides for maximum precision and squareness of cut. A further feature are adjustable lateral roller bearings that take the blade twist load prior to entry into the guides. The moving guides position automatically close to the cutting area, again for maximum precision. As a point of note, the machine software controls a hydraulic cylinder to tension the sawblade accordingly, while an automatic trim cut option is also available.

Finally, if the material has an acceptable pre-sawn face, it will locate accurately and automatically relative to the blade ‘zero’ position.
For further information www.addisonsaws.co.uk