Quickgrind has extended its product offering with the arrival of the Mirage Super range of solid-carbide end mills. Designed for a multitude of applications in a wide range of materials, the new Mirage Super is available in standard or application-specific formats to give end users high-performance characteristics when cutting stainless steel, titanium and other superalloy materials.

Building upon the reputation of the existing Mirage series, Quickgrind has introduced its next-generation coating technology and combined it with the very latest micro-grain carbide substrate that increases performance, even on challenging materials such as titanium, Inconel or stainless steel.

The only boundary with regard to diameters, lengths or geometries for the Quickgrind Mirage Super is the machine tools that produce these high-end cutters. Mirage Super is available with four, five, six or more flutes in diameters from 3 to 32 mm, with any combination of edge preparation radius, chip breaker, through-coolant or neck reduction. Suitable for trochoidal milling applications on challenging materials, the Quickgrind Mirage Super can achieve full flute engagement at 3xD.

This performance arrives by way of the new XRed-SL coating technology that has been developed using advanced arc technology which Quickgrind is introducing in this new cutting-tool range. The process deposits coatings at far higher energy levels than possible with conventional arc sources, providing a significantly increased coating density that leads to improved abrasion resistance and reduced tendency for chipping at the cutting edge. This coating also has fewer growth defects and this results in a smoother surface, which can be improved further with the appropriate post-treatment.

It is possible to regrind and recoat the new range a number of times.

For further information
www.quickgrind.com

Allied Machine is releasing its high-penetration drilling system, the T-A Pro. The T-A Pro drill combines material-specific insert geometries, a redesigned drill body and a proprietary through-coolant system to allow penetration rates which the company says run at speeds of up to 30% faster than other high-performance drills on the market.

Coolant outlets direct maximum flow to the cutting edge, providing quick heat extraction where it is needed most, even at significantly higher speeds. In addition, material-specific insert geometries produce good chip formation, while the drill body incorporates redesigned straight flutes for maximum coolant flow and rigidity.

These design elements combine to extend tool life, create consistent-quality holes and provide chip evacuation. As a result, the T-A Pro drill is said to offer machine shops and high-production manufacturers a spade drill with high speed and cost per hole averaging 25% less than existing drills.

The T-A Pro drilling system from Allied Machine is available in diameters ranging from 11.1 to 47.0 mm, and is suitable for stub, 3xD, 5xD, 7xD, 10xD, 12xD and 15xD hole depths. Allied Machine’s drill comes in both metric and imperial shanks, with flat and cylindrical variants. The carbide insert geometries will initially cater for the following ISO material classes: steel (P) with AM300 coating; cast iron (K) with TiAlN coating; and non-ferrous (N) with TiCN coating.

Product manager Sal Deluca says: “The T-A Pro drill is designed for use in applications ranging well beyond general-purpose drilling. It truly will target all industries, offering phenomenal tool life at high penetration rates, especially in situations where the balance of chip formation at high penetration is critical.”

For further information
www.alliedmachine.com

Railway-focused cutting tools can often be complex due to the specific requirement needed to machine a certain component in an efficient and reliable manner. Therefore, across many applications, the majority of cutting tools for the railway industry are classed as specials. However, there are several tools available within Dormer Pramet’s standard assortment that are suitable for the production of various railway components.

The company’s Penta HD and Econ HN, for example, are milling tools from the Pramet indexable range for applications that include the machining of switches, base plates and wagon parts, such as frames, wheel axles and bogies.

When machining switches, one of the first operations is roughing the top and bottom sections of the rail. This requires a large diameter cutter, enabling the fewest number of passes possible. Both the Penta HD and Econ HN assortments have indexable cutters up to 315 mm diameter.

Dormer Pramet developed the Penta HD milling cutter specifically with switch machining in mind. Offering up to 10 mm depth of cut and a feed rate of 0.7 mm per tooth, the range enables high metal removal rates and productivity.

Another railway operation that can benefit from the use of standard tools is the machining of base plates – the connecting element which attaches the rail to the tie or sleeper. When machining the bottom part of base plates, for example, face milling cutters with diameters up to 160 mm are often used. The Pramet Econ HN assortment offers a 45° face milling cutter, which is available from 25-315 mm in diameter and includes HNGX 06 and HNGX 09 inserts.

For further information
www.dormerpramet.com

To better provide technical support in the COVID-19 era, Ceratizit has introduced its LiveTechPro app. The app offers immediate visual support to deliver technical assistance in the event of machining issues, or simply to help optimise processes. LiveTechPro features a live, bi-directional video and audio connection between the customer’s machine operator/production engineer and the technical support team from Ceratizit. The app offers a reliable service that users can activate within seconds to ensure production continues to run smoothly.

“Although our success has been built on the direct technical support that our engineers give on site – and we would always want to work this way as a first choice – we are operating in extraordinary times and ongoing support for customers remains our main priority,” says Tony Pennington, managing director, Ceratizit UK & Ireland. “The LiveTechPro app is the next best thing to a physical visit, allowing our team to provide that support remotely.”

The technology involved with LiveTechPro will enable detailed discussions to take place as if a Ceratizit engineer was on-site. Specific issues or elements of a component can be highlighted on screen, downloaded if necessary for detailed discussion, with responses and solutions being provided there and then in terms of technical advice.

LiveTechPro allows for multiple levels of operation via smartphone or tablet, with conventional video being the starting point. However, the app is also compatible with virtual reality technology to take support to the next level. LiveTechPro is available for iPhone and Android operating systems.

For further information
www.ceratizit.com