General milling grade for steels

Dormer Pramet has launched a new milling grade for general machining applications in a variety of common engineering materials, particularly steels. Suitable for both finishing and roughing, even in unfavourable cutting conditions, the M8330 grade is said to provide a reliable and versatile option when machining either with or without coolant, in steels and cast iron. The new grade is also suitable for stainless steel, super alloys and hardened steels.

The M8330 replaces the existing 8230 grade and features a nano-layered PVD coating which is designed to offer increased resistance to thermal cracks, improved toughness and greater impact strength.
Added to more than 90 different types of existing Pramet milling inserts, M8330 is also available in a completely new range of inserts for copy milling. RCMT10 inserts offer high metal removal rates, with up to 5 mm depth of cut and strong durability. Designed to allow a high feed per tooth, RCMT10 is available in three geometries to support operations in a range of materials: geometry F is for stainless steels, super alloys and low-carbon steels; geometry M for steels and stainless steels; and geometry R for cast iron and hardened materials.
To support this addition, Dormer Pramet has expanded its current line of SRC copy-milling cutters. The SRC10 is a series of small diameter cutters available in sizes from 25 to 66 mm, and in a variety of types, including end mills, modular and shell mills. A double-negative design is deployed to provide a stable cutting action, even during roughing, making it suitable for operations such as face milling, helical interpolation, ramping, progressive plunging and high-feed cutting.
For further information www.dormerpramet.com

Lubricant partnership

DMG Mori AG and Fuchs Petrolub SE have signed a collaboration agreement in which the pair intend to set standards with innovative product developments for machining lubricants. The goal of the technology partnership is to jointly develop new lubricant solutions and services for machine tool applications.

The plan also includes further progress in digitisation of production processes and condition monitoring of machines and plants. Today, a modern cutting fluid is subjected to a variety of demands. Cutting fluids for metalworking processes must be effective, economical and free from ingredients that are harmful to health and the environment. In process chains downstream of metalworking, customised cleaning agent solutions and process-compatible and reliable corrosion preventatives play a decisive role when it comes to production reliability and product quality. That is why optimally matched lubricant concepts are important – because all process steps must be taken into account. With its range of lubricants and application experience, Fuchs says that its cutting fluids are durable and economical in consumption.
For further information www.dmgmori.com

Vollmer grows UK team

Vollmer, the cutting tool and saw blade sharpening specialist, has expanded its UK team to enhance both the service and sales operations of the business.

The manufacturer of precision grinding and erosion machine tools has employed Shaun Hill as its latest addition to the service department, while longstanding service engineer Kieran Rosling has moved into the technical sales department. As a youthful engineer, Hill has hit the ground running with Vollmer technology and is already proving a welcome addition to the team.
For further information www.vollmer-group.com

Bandsaws prove to be a Mega success

Sheffield-based Special Quality Alloys is a specialist in forged products, bar and machined components made from nickel-based alloys, duplex, super duplex, stainless steels and carbon and alloy grades principally for the oil and gas, power generation, aerospace and general engineering industries around the world. The company holds approvals that include IS0 9001 and ISO 14001, as well as numerous end-user accreditations.

Part of the Special Steel Group, Special Quality Alloys was requested to produce a total of 35,000 bars that needed cutting to size from billets, forming part of a single individual project. The company had previously purchased a number of sawing machines from Prosaw, but this special rapid-sawing application was so intensive that three new saws were required in order to meet demand.
Firstly, Prosaw supplied a Mega BS330HAS heavy-duty automatic bandsaw, which has been fully employed cutting the billets seven days a week since installation. This machine has been followed by two further bandsaws from Prosaw, a Mega H-460A heavy-duty, automatic twin-column bandsaw and a second Mega 330HAS. All three saws are said to make fast work of cutting the high Rockwell hardness nickel steel billets.
Dean Matthews, operations director at Special Quality Alloys expressed his satisfaction with the service given to this project by Prosaw, as well as the performance of the bandsaws, stating: “These saws have proved themselves to be very reliable and capable in efficiently and accurately handling a very challenging material. Reliability reduces the frequency of any servicing that might be required, which in turn reduces both downtime and costs.” Editor’s note: MTI is printing this story to replace the Prosaw press release that appeared in the 20 November issue in error, which was a historical article not reflecting the current extensive in-house sawing capabilities of Special Quality Alloys.
For further information www.prosaw.co.uk

AMRC names latest tier 1 member

An additional company has been appointed as a tier 1 partner by the AMRC in Rotherham. The new member is Geo Kingsbury, whose managing director Richard Kingsbury now sits on the research centre’s board of directors. As a precursor to the appointment, Geo Kingsbury has donated an £800,000 Multigrind CB purchased from one of its German principals, Haas Schleifmaschinen, for which it acts as sole sales and service agent in the UK and Ireland.

The machine will extend the AMRC’s grinding capabilities, as it offers the flexibility of cylindrical, gear and thread grinding on a single platform.
For further information www.geokingsbury.com