Over the past 35 years, the Supermini universal boring system from Horn has undergone numerous development stages to solve problems in a variety of turning applications. The latest enhancement for the Supermini type 105 is a lower cost version of the solid-carbide inserts with chip-breaking geometry included at the sintering stage, rather than laser cutting or grinding them afterwards. Indeed, the price of the new Supermini is similar to that of the standard insert without geometry.

As with these previous machined chip breakers, the new sintered geometry avoids the drawback of long, stringy swarf coiling around the tool or workpiece and potentially causing damage to both. It assists with the internal machining of small diameter holes, whether boring, profile turning, internal grooving, threading, chamfering, face grooving or slot broaching.

Horn developed teardrop shaped carbide blanks for the tool, enabling large, precise contact surfaces in the tool holder and resulting in greater rigidity of the overall system. The teardrop profile also prevents the insert from twisting, which leads to consistent, precise positioning of the centre height of the tool. When using long tool overhangs, it reduces deflection and minimises vibration during turning.

Horn offers the inserts as standard in three lengths (15.0, 20.0 and 25.0 mm) and in carbide grades TH35 and IG35. The tool is suitable for use from a bore diameter of 6 mm, while the edge geometry extends far into the 0.2 mm corner radius of the insert, ensuring good chip control even with small infeed settings. It is possible to process different material groups and the geometry is suitable for internal, face, copy and back turning.More information www.phorn.co.uk