In a move designed to help machine shops increase productivity, tool life and process reliability, Walter is now offering an app that enables users to quickly and easily replace existing cutting tools – including those currently applying competitor tooling – with the latest Walter indexable inserts.

Rather than endless menu options, a simplified search function within the Insert Converter app allows users to make selections based on insert grades and geometries – inputting the current geometry before the alternatives available from Walter are displayed.
Recommended grades or geometries may vary considerably depending on the workpiece material type, in which case the user will receive additional details such as the coating process or ISO classification and, in the case of ISO geometries, the indexable-insert type. Applications include ISO turning, grooving and parting off, while in addition to carbide cutting tool materials, CBN, PCD, ceramic and cermet are also covered.
Walter’s Insert Converter app is compatible with Android and iOS (Apple) devices, and is available as a web version via a browser – and offline, if required. The app can be downloaded from the App Store, Google Play or via Walter’s website.
For further information www.walter-tools.com

The 315 system from Horn for internal and external grooving has gained a new range of single-edged, CBN-tipped inserts suitable for hard machining applications. Inserts are available for producing grooves from 1 to 3 mm wide and up to 5 mm deep.

A large contact area on the insert seats directs the cutting pressure efficiently into the holder, while the central clamping screw enables maximum tightening of the insert for vibration-free, accurate machining. These properties make the system suitable for counteracting the high forces generated during hard turning. The holder range is available in monoblock design and as a cartridge system for HSK-T and PSC connections.
In other product news from Horn Cutting Tools, the company says that Boehlerit’s new turning tool holders with connections for internal coolant supply are now available in the UK. The holders are available from stock with toggle clamp (ISO-P) and screw clamp (ISO-S) systems, allowing manufacturers to benefit from the productivity advantages of cooling directly at the cutting edge.
The P variety is suitable for all ISO indexable inserts. There are no loose components and only a few spares are required, making them easy to handle. According to Horn, inserts can be clamped quickly and securely, and released easily, while chip flow is smooth as there are no obstructions.
S-type tool holders also enable the insert to be secured simply and safely, in this case using a cone-shaped positioning screw. Here too, chip flow is not compromised and a maximum of three spare parts is needed.
For both types of holder, the coolant is supplied at the back of the shank end as standard, or from below the head as an option.
For further information www.phorn.co.uk

A new solution for higher productivity hard turning at higher speed and feed rates is based on more economic use of a specific design of octagon insert incorporating special wiper geometry that enhances surface finish.

The Sumitomo Electric Hardmetal High Feed Turning (HFT) system leverages the company’s experience in CBN insert technology.
HFT hard-turning trials have resulted in 12 to 16 times faster processing times over existing methods, while enabling existing component surface finish and tolerances to be maintained. However, adding to the success of the trials, insert life was doubled, aided by the availability of eight cutting edges on CBN insert.
HFT tool holders feature a specially developed insert location for speedy and accurate exchange, while the monoblock design caters for turning, boring and facing with machine interface couplings available in HSK, VDI, ISO-PSC and DIN shanks. The double clamp insert system ensures higher stability of the insert with a direction-defined coolant/air supply through the holder.
In recent hard-turning trials, HFT CBN inserts were run at 150 m/min and 1.2 mm/rev to achieve over 1200 parts per insert. Previous methods at slower cutting speeds only achieved 100 components per insert.
Similarly, for finishing cuts, previous tool life was 100 parts per insert. However, HFT enabled this rate to be increased to 1600 components, with speed increases to 150 m/min from
120 m/min.
For further information www.sumitomotool.com

The Kennametal KBH10 is a new uncoated PcBN turning insert that is claimed to offer high wear resistance and very low cutting forces.

As a result, Kennametal says that many customers are now enjoying double the tool life together with improved part quality.
KBH10 PcBN hard-turning inserts are designed to turn hardened metals up to 65 HRc, especially where very high surface finishes are required. Typical parts set to benefit include bearing journals, rings and pistons, and gear hubs, where dimensional tolerances of <4 μm or less are increasingly common, along with surface requirements better than Ra <0.4 μm. In one example, a well-known automotive manufacturer was able to more than double tool life, from 150 to 350 pieces per edge during an internal facing operation on a 140 mm diameter 5115 alloy steel bearing hub that was previously heat-treated to 62 HRc. A drive-shaft producer achieved similar results, increasing tool life from 250 to 450 pieces per edge when turning 58 HRc UC1 (similar to S53) steel on its vertical turret lathes, consistently maintaining a surface finish of 6 Rz while doing so. In each instance, a cutting speed of 180 m/min was used, with depths of cut averaging 0.15 mm and feed rates ranging from 0.22 to 0.32 mm per rev. Also, in each case the customer saved thousands of dollars annually in insert costs compared with its existing solution, while substantially reducing downtime due to tool changeovers, says Kennametal. For further information www.kennametal.com