New generation of micro drills

Sandvik Coromant has launched two micro-drill families for precision machining. CoroDrill 462 with -XM geometry and CoroDrill 862 with -GM geometry support industries that demand small parts, such as medical, automotive, electronics and aerospace. Designed to cover a variety of workpiece materials, CoroDrill 462 and 862 are available in new geometries to offer a wide range of cutting diameters and lengths.

The drills have been specially adapted to overcome the challenges of micro drilling. For instance, it is critical to have quality coolant to effectively evacuate chips when performing deep-hole drilling with micro tools. Both CoroDrill 462 and 862 can easily drill hole depths of up to 9xD when using external coolant. A through-coolant option is also available for drilling diameters of 1 mm and above, and hole depths of up to 16xD. Not only does the effective use of coolant help the tools to drill deeper holes, but it also extends tool life and reduces the risk of chip jamming.

Suitable for drilling both blind and through holes, the drill is capable of machining a variety of materials, including ISO P, M, K, N, S, O and H. Drill depths up to 6xD are available.

CoroDrill 862 is for making holes from 1 to 3 mm in diameter in all materials when used with internal coolant. In addition to conventional drilling, CoroDrill 862 supports a variety of other drilling activities, including cross holes, stack drilling and drilling convex and concave surfaces.

Although available as off-the-shelf solid carbide tools, both the CoroDrill 462 and 862 are available for customisation. Furthermore, customers have the option of purchasing CoroDrill 862 with a PCD vein cutting edge.

For further information
www.sandvik.coromant.com

GM CNC builds warehouse extension

As the sole UK and Ireland agent for the Victor range of CNC machine tools, the GM Group is currently extending its warehousing facilities in Oldham to support business growth. Set for completion in spring 2022, the new facility will expand the warehousing space from its existing 16,000 to over 30,000 sq ft. The extra space will house more machine tools, as well as pre-owned machinery, a training area, new open-plan office facilities, a new reception area and meeting rooms. This expansion adds to existing facilities in Bolton.

GM director Nicola Howard says: “From a customer service perspective, the extension will enable us to further reduce lead times, with the ability to hold more new and used stock machines. Additionally, customers will be able to visit the new showroom to witness demonstrations of the very latest machine tool technology. The extension will be serviced by a new 21.5 m span, 20-tonne Street overhead crane with a distance of over 9.8 m under the hook.”

For further information www.gm-cnc.com

Eager anticipation for SteelFab 2022

SteelFab 2022 is set to take place on 10-13 January at the Expo Centre Sharjah, UAE. The exhibition caters for manufacturing segments that include machine tools, power tools, welding and cutting equipment, and tube and pipe processing machinery. The 17th edition of the show builds on the last event in 2020, where over 300 exhibitors representing more than 700 brands took their place across 26,000 sq m of floor space.

Some 6500 visitors attended the previous edition of SteelFab from 70 countries. Of the total, 51.7% attended in order to see new products and innovations, while 42.1% were looking to source new suppliers. Complementing the exhibition will be a specialised two-day conference for the steel fabrication industry, focusing on topics such as key learnings from the impact of Covid-19 on supply and demand, and digitalisation trends.

For further information
www.steelfabme.com

Vollmer launches new tool grinder

At the EMO Milano exhibition in October, Vollmer delivered the public premiere of its VGrind 360S grinding machine for the complete machining of carbide tools. This new five-axis CNC grinding machine can produce carbide tools with a diameter up to 25.4 mm and, depending on machine kinematics and the equipping of grinding wheel packages, it can even be used for tools up to 150 mm diameter. The VGrind 360S incorporates wear-free linear induction motors on the X, Y and Z axes to lower maintenance costs for the machine, while contributing to higher surface quality for the tool.

The tried-and-tested vertical double-spindle concept from Vollmer now features an oriented spindle stop for the first time. Also known as spindle indexing, this function always stops the spindle at a specific position, resulting in a reduction of axial run-out errors and concentricity issues, while offsetting wear in the HSK holding system. Another new feature is a heat plate exchanger to efficiently cool the motors and spindles, which in turn leads to increased thermal stability.

Simple and intuitive operation is at the core of the VGrind 360S and, for customers to fully exploit its potential, Vollmer has created an ergonomic platform whereby users can operate the control panel comfortably while having full visibility of the work envelope. Operation via the keyboard or touchscreen allows for precise machining of the tool, and the multi-function hand wheel ensures even more flexibility as operators can position it freely on the enclosure. This design allows the setting of a required axis without using the control panel.

The VGrind 360S incorporates Vollmer’s established operating concept and can be used unmanned around the clock thanks to automation features such as a pallet magazine, free-arm robot or chain magazine.

For further information
www.vollmer-group.com

Rösler aids mass finishing research at WZL

The machine tool institute (WZL) of RWTH Aachen University and Rösler Oberflächentechnik/AM Solutions are co-operating on practical research for knowledge-based mass finishing processes. For the necessary processing trials, WZL not only uses its own equipment, but also the comprehensive range of mass finishing machinery at the customer experience centre of Rösler.

“With Rösler we have a partner who is highly motivated to further develop mass finishing technology,” says Marius Ohlert, project manager for grinding technologies at WZL. “As a result, we are constantly communicating with the company’s R&D department. From this information exchange about developments in the field of science and experience in the industry we frequently identify questions and subjects for future projects.”

For example, such projects deal with the post processing of components produced by either 3D printing or hybrid manufacturing technologies.

“The activities in this field, which Rösler pursues under the brand name AM Solutions-3D post-processing technology, are especially valuable for the co-operation with WZL,” states Ohlert. “They were also the reason for investing in two new finishing machines, which we purchased in close liaison with colleagues from a partner institute that deals intensively with additive manufacturing.”

Moreover, this investment allows the WZL institute to further demonstrate the possibilities of mass finishing technology for basic research, as well as for specific industrial projects. The institute purchased a surf finisher 700, a special rotary vibrator R 150 DL-2 and a semi-automatic centrifuge Z 800 K-HA Turbo-Floc for cleaning and recycling the process water from the mass finishing machines.

For further information
www.rosler.com