Walter adds M5250 to Xtra·tec XT series

Walter has extended its range of Xtra·tec XT milling cutters to cover diameters 50, 63 and 80 mm with the addition of the M5250 helical mill. The company says that its latest generation of indexable-insert milling cutters is characterised by high performance paired with process reliability.

These capabilities are credit to features like a reinforced insert pocket and insert seat. Moreover, each individual tooth on the M5250 has separate cooling. Walter uses proven, double-edged BC 1605 system inserts on the face of the M5250, and allows users to choose between various corner radii, cutting tool materials and geometries.

The G51 geometry (“the quiet one”) is for applications likely to incur vibration, or for tools with long projection lengths. In contrast, G55W cutting inserts with Walter WaveCut geometry are suitable for titanium components with high volume removal requirements, such as those found in the aerospace industry. Walter uses milling cutter-specific SC 1105 cutting inserts with four cutting edges as peripheral inserts.

In addition to steel, cast iron and materials with difficult cutting properties, the helical milling cutter is also suitable for use on aluminium and other non-ferrous metals. Unlike other fully effective helical milling cutters, Xtra·tec XT milling cutters can also be used for full slotting alongside shoulder milling, pocket milling and ramping.

As well as flexibility and process reliability (thanks to the operational smoothness of the cutter), Walter says the high machining volume results from the effective design of the mill and reduced process costs. These lower costs stem from the two or four useable cutting edges per indexable insert, along with new wear-resistant Tiger·tec cutting tool materials.

More information www.walter-tools.com

Allied Machine grows T-A Pro drilling line

Allied Machine and Engineering, a manufacturer of hole-making and finish-cutting tools, has expanded it T-A Pro replaceable-insert drilling line into the Y series. With a diameter range of (9.5-11.09 mm), T-A Pro Y series is available in stub to 15xD and ISO-specific carbide grades P, K, and N, as well as high-speed steel substrate X. 

Adding the Y series to the diameter offering of the T-A Pro line, which has a complete range of (9.5-47.8 mm), gives machine shops using high-speed steel twist drills and conventional style tools the opportunity to upgrade to a better system.

Additionally, for those using solid-carbide tooling, the Y series offers exchangeable tips, eliminating the need for regrinding, while also providing the ability to target specific materials and applications with an ISO-specific geometry selection on a single holder body. Ultimately, T-A Pro Y series benefits smaller scale part runs in various industries because of its favourable cost per hole. 

Like the T-A Pro Z series, the Y series is available in A and B body diameters. Offered in both imperial and metric as well as flat and cylindrical shanks for all length options, the Y series serves as an upgrade to manufacturing processes while also allowing machinists to increase throughput in their machining applications.  

John Weniger, product manager, says: “The T-A Pro line has established itself in the market as a go-to drilling solution that over-delivers on performance, reliability and consistency. The expansion of the T-A Pro drilling line into the Y series allows users to experience the benefits of the T-A Pro line at smaller diameters.” 

More information www.alliedmachine.com

UK clean energy boost

The formation of the Clean Energy Systems Partner Alliance (CESPA) is set to boost onshoring manufacturing with six experts in their respective fields coming together to deliver a single-source solution for innovators and developers of green technology. PP Control & Automation has been joined by Danfoss, Emerson, Glacier Energy, Phoenix Contact and Voltserve. “The UK renewable energy market is expected to double in value to £46bn by 2034,” explains Richard Spears, marketing manager at PP C&A. “With CESPA, we want to ensure as much of this work is captured and delivered by UK companies.”

More information www.cespa.org.uk

£26m plant

British Steel has opened a new £26m manufacturing plant to serve the forklift truck mast industry. The investment at British Steel’s Special Profiles business in Skinningrove, Teesside, will significantly increase throughput over the next two years. The facility includes four new CNC lathes for turning mill rolls, three automated bandsaws for cutting stock to length and a laser measurement system for process control. British Steel also says the plant incorporates one of the finest large-capacity (14 m) bed mills in the world, enabling it to meet precise customer requirements for very tight tolerances.

More information www.britishsteel.co.uk

Horn secures Industry 4.0 award

Cutting tool manufacturer Paul Horn GmbH has received a second Allianz Industrie 4.0 Award Baden-Württemberg, underlining the company’s continuous pursuit of innovation and its pioneering role in digitalisation. Horn’s innovation has been to map the lifecycle of tools digitally, principally to enable the recording of quality-critical data using a web-based solution customised for specific groups of tooling products. The Horn Service Platform (HSP) prevents errors and reduces lead times by digitally automating and accelerating administrative tasks.

More information www.horn-group.com