Rainford Precision is adding to its cutting tool portfolio with the arrival of the CEHS end-mill series from Union Tool that the company says reduces chatter and improves precision and surface finish. 

The new CEHS tungsten-carbide four-flute end mills are for manufacturers struggling to hit the ‘sweet spot’ with their high-end machining applications. Suitable for machining everything from carbon and alloy steels to pre-hardened steel, cast iron, copper, titanium and heat-resistant alloys, the CEHS series incorporates a 40° helix and a variable pitch design for both slot and standard milling. Furthermore, the new large-pocket design of the main flute enhances swarf evacuation and eliminates the re-cutting of chips to extend tool life and machining performance.

Union Tool’s CEHS series has a h4 shank diameter tolerance of +0/-0.004 mm. To enhance milling stability, the end mills feature a small relief surface that further promotes stability and prevents chatter, even when undertaking operations with long tool overhang and reduced machining stability.

A micro-grain carbide, UT coating technology and 16° tapered shank design enable the 6 mm diameter version to machine slots in unstable conditions with an increase in milling efficiency of 80% improvement when compared with conventional tools, reports Rainford Precision.

Capable of cutting at machining parameters of 5000 rpm and 900 mm/min feed with a feed per tooth of 0.045 mm at a depth of 6 mm, the CEHS range of end mills is available in diameters from 1 to 6 mm in 0.5 mm increments with additional diameters from 6 to 12 mm offered in 1 mm increments. Each diameter designation has three different lengths of cut from 1.5xD to 3xD.

More information www.rainfordprecision.com

Ceratizit says that its new ProACT-Mill UNImax solid-carbide milling cutter is not only powerful and universally applicable, but also environmentally friendly thanks to the resource-efficient manufacturing process of the upGRADE CT-GS20Y grade, part of a particularly sustainable carbide family which the company calls upGRADE.

“What’s special about upGRADE CT-GS20Y is the significantly smaller carbon footprint generated during production compared with carbides from conventional production,” explains Michael Wucher, global technical product manager. “We achieve this using 99% reprocessed cutting tools as the raw material.”

The test results of the new series underline its potential: Ceratizit says that ProACT-Mill milling cutters deliver up to 30% higher performance compared with other universal tools. The newly developed coating, which brings with it additional performance and tool life reserves, further contributes to this level of performance.

A variable helix pitch ensures extremely quiet running and optimum chip removal. The ProACT-Mill UNI has an HB shank for optimal force transmission, while the reinforced tool core ensures even force distribution throughout the milling process.

To ensure stability of the cutting edge, the mill features a radial clearance face. The face-finishing chamfer promises top surface quality with base machining, while cutting edges with an irregular pitch specifically suppress vibration. Ramping milling and helical milling are possible up to an angle of 30°.

The ProACT-Mill UNI with a cutting edge length of 3xDC is particularly suitable for series production and trochoidal machining. Chip breakers in a radial design deliver long tool life and break the chips to a length of 1xD, with even and consistent removal thanks to the special shape of the chip space.

When it comes to maximum material removal rates, the ProACT-Mill UNImax offers special geometry design for depths-of-cut of up to 2xDC.

More information www.ceratizit.com

Cutting tool manufacturer Horn has extended downwards in size its M475 grooving and cut-off milling system. A user could previously select a grooving width of either 5, 6 or 8 mm, but now smaller inserts with a cutting width of 3 or 4 mm are available. In the UK and Ireland, the tools are available via the German manufacturer’s subsidiary in Ringwood, Hampshire.

The M475 system employs precision-ground, indexable inserts with four cutting edges. Positive geometry and a round chip-breaker groove, together with the new RC4G carbide grade, deliver economical, productive machining performance, reports the company. High toughness and hardness enable the machining of steels at elevated cutting speeds. These attributes also serve to increase insert life significantly.

The cutter bodies are available from stock as side, shell and screw-in milling cutters – the two latter variants feature internal coolant supply.

Side milling cutters range in diameter from 80 to 200 mm and have cutting widths of 3, 4, 5, 6 or 8 mm. As shell mills, the tools are available in diameters from 63 to 200 mm and with identical grooving widths. The screw-in cutters are for a groove width of 5 mm and are available in diameters from 40 to 63 mm as standard. The effective number of teeth of depends on tool diameter and ranges from two to 13. Special surface treatment of the tool body offers protection against abrasion from chips.

More information www.phorn.co.uk

With the new WSM13G, WSM23G, WSM33G and WSM43G grades, Walter is expanding its Tiger·tec Gold range for grooving applications and also making it suitable for universal use. The diversity of the new grades ensures their suitability for everything from grooving and parting off to groove-turning, in virtually every material.

Walter developed the multi-layer Tiger·tec Gold PVD insert coating especially for the main types of wear that occur when grooving. The company says that the special performance of the inserts is credit to the combined TiAlN and TiSiN multi-layer coating. This makes the layers of the grades hard and resistant against both flank face wear and plastic deformation.

Complementing the multi-layer coasting is a special post-treatment process that ensures smooth rake faces, less friction and more toughness. Walter is offering the grades in four versions with different levels of hardness or toughness.

The WSM33G universal grade is suitable for 80% of grooving applications in steel, stainless and heat-resistant alloys. If the level of wear is too high, users can choose from two harder grades for ISO M, S and P materials. The WSM13G is suitable for finishing and medium machining with uninterrupted cutting, while the new WSM23G is for stable conditions, high-speed cutting and where machine shops are using oil as the cooling lubricant.

For particularly heat-resistant materials such as Inconel 718, Walter says that the WSM13G grade achieves maximum tool life in combination with 150 bar precision cooling. If a tougher grade is necessary, the WSM43G is suitable for interrupted cutting, machining at low cutting speeds or unstable conditions.

Walter is offering the new grades for all its grooving systems.

More information www.walter-tools.com