Digital meets manufacturing

Sheffield Technology Parks (STP) has joined forces with the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) in a year-long campaign to connect the city’s burgeoning digital and creative community to the region’s diverse manufacturing sector.

A year-long programme of informal meets, part of the AMRC’s fast expanding Digital Meet Manufacturing initiative, will be hosted by STP, where some of the region’s most innovative digital companies
are developing software and programs for a variety of platforms.
For further information www.amrc.co.uk

Automatically adjustable fine-boring head

ActiveEdge Apex, the latest fully automated fine-boring innovation from Rigibore, is pitched at the accurate machining of small bores. Making use of Rigibore’s ActiveEdge technology, Apex is said to be a world-first in terms of fully integrated, automatically adjustable fine-boring heads, delivering precision performance on bores ranging from 0.25 to 26 mm diameter. Rigibore unveiled the Apex system at EMO 2019 last month.

The Apex boring head offers a closed-loop compensation system that automatically adjusts the diameter being cut as a result of commands sent directly from the machine tool’s control, based on values calculated by in-process measurements. Importantly, the boring head can be adjusted with micron accuracy, anywhere within the machine, completely independent of operator intervention. Compensations can be made with the head in the spindle, or even while it remains idle in the tool carousel and another operation takes place. Assurance that the correct adjustment value has been made is confirmed via direct feedback from the tool to the ActiveEdge interface.
“Typically, manufacturers experience all too familiar problems with conventional boring heads, mainly the issue of accurately setting and maintaining fine-tolerance limits, with high scrap rates impacting on bottom-line performance,” says Rigibore chairman Roger Bassett. “The requirement for operators to constantly check boring heads for accuracy, and then living in fear of backlash, and slowing production can now be eliminated.
“Our Apex boring head provides manufactures with a perfect bore, first time, every time, using macros to accurately adjust the boring head within predetermined tolerance parameters, all while reducing cycle time,” he adds.
For further information www.rigibore.com

Change at the top

Scottish engineering specialist Vert Rotors has appointed a new chief executive as the company enters a commercially-focused phase to bring its patented technology to market.

Manufacturing veteran Phil Harris has joined Edinburgh-based Vert from Clear Surgical, a medical device company based in Glasgow. He replaces Vert founder Olly Dmitriev, who set up the company in 2013 to develop a new type of compressor technology that is compact and quieter than traditional twin-screw devices, and capable of continuous running.
For further information www.vertrotors.com

Diamond-tipped tooling from Horn

A CVD diamond-tipped tool system, DDHM, has been introduced by Horn for the cost-effective drilling and countersinking of sintered carbides and ceramics of hardness up to 3000 Hv. DDHM is said to enable short throughput times, high surface quality, lower costs and more flexibility within the production process, as well as long tool life.

Due to the fact they allow machining to take place on conventional milling and turning centres, DDHM tools do away with costly and time-consuming grinding and eroding processes. There is also an opportunity for savings in capital plant, as investment in expensive new machinery can potentially be avoided.
Thanks to its ability to machine carbide punches and dies, the DDHM system is particularly suited to manufacturers in the tool and die-making sector. However, the tools also offer advantages in other areas, including the medical, aerospace and automotive industries, as well as in punching, forging and forming technology.
Horn CVD-D-tipped drills can be used for producing holes in solid material to a maximum depth of 10xD. The drills are of two-edged design and available in diameters ranging from 2 to 10 mm. All versions feature an internal coolant supply.
For chamfering and countersinking, Horn offers the CVD-D end mill from stock in diameters of 3 and 6 mm, and with flank angles of 15, 30 and 45°. The 3 mm version has five teeth, while the 6 mm version has six.
For further information www.phorn.co.uk

Profile mill range expanded

The DoTwistBall profile-milling line has been expanded by Tungaloy to include further insert radii.

In addition to the 04 (R4.0) style insert, the company has added the 05 (R5.0) and 06 (R6.0) style inserts to the standard range. Tungaloy’s expanded DoTwistBall line incorporates a novel design that allows two different types of inserts to fit the same shank, each dedicated to profiling and high-feed applications.
DoTwistBall inserts are constructed in a helically twisted structure that fits the seat pocket, which is constructed in a matching helical profile. This twist-clamp system helps maximise insert retention, making DoTwistBall suitable for stable machining in demanding 3D profiling and high-feed machining tasks.
MJ radius insert geometry is cited as popular among manufacturers profiling mould and die parts. This insert features a large cross-section that has been designed to absorb cutting forces, providing higher reliability and performance over conventional round inserts, says the company. The cutting edge integrates a large inclination angle to promote smooth chip evacuation.
Tungaloy says high-feed HJ geometry inserts promote efficient machining through 30% greater cutting depth and feed rates over conventional high-feed inserts. The maximum depth of cut for the existing 04 insert is 1.3 mm, while the newly released 06 insert is suitable for cutting at a depth of 2 mm per pass in operations that include shouldering, facing, slotting, pocketing and helical interpolation.
Two standard grades are available: the AH3135 for steel and stainless steel; and the AH120 for cast iron. The cutter body line-up is available in shank, modular and bore types for all three insert sizes, with various choices of tool reach.
For further information www.tungaloy.com/uk