Cutting Tools

Exactaform Acquires Precision Tooling Specialist

Exactaform Cutting Tools has acquired the trade and assets of PJ Tooling, an established
name in the precision tooling industry. The move not only strengthens Exactaform’s
commitment to growth and expansion but also carries a sentimental value that dates back
to the company’s roots.

Exactaform founder John Inglis started his career at PJ Tooling. This experience laid the
foundation for his future in the tooling industry and was instrumental in the formation of
Exactaform. With this acquisition, his journey has come full circle, bringing PJ Tooling under
the Exactaform umbrella and creating new opportunities.
“PJ Tooling gave me my start in the industry, so it’s a great privilege to be able to bring the
business back into the fold and ensure its legacy continues,” says Inglis. “We’re excited to
bring our expertise and resources to PJ’s operations and support its customers with the
same high standards of service that we provide at Exactaform.”
PJ Tooling’s location in Warwick is just a short drive from Exactaform’s headquarters in
Coventry, making the transition smooth with operations now united under one roof at the
latter facility. By centralising operations, Exactaform can leverage its state-of-the-art
facilities and expert team to enhance further the company’s ability to deliver on complex
projects.
The acquisition of PJ Tooling presents exciting opportunities for Exactaform to strengthen its
position in the hydraulic component industry, among others. While the company already
has some experience in this sector, there is a considerable amount of crossover between
existing capabilities and the specific requirements of manufacturing bespoke cutting tools
for machining hydraulic components.
With PJ Tooling’s established reputation and Exactaform’s manufacturing processes, the
company is excited to expand its reach and deliver even greater value to customers who
require high-precision tools for hydraulic applications.
More information www.exactaform.com

Tool Management Engineered In Record Time

Mapal’s offer for the series production of the motor block required for a new Deutz 3.9-litre
diesel engine included almost 100 different tools, as well as tool holders and adapters.
Effective tool management was therefore a priority. However, in the capable hands of
Mapal, the Zafra, Spain facility of Deutz knew it could rely on the delivery of an optimised
solution.
Deutz’s new 3.9-litre diesel engine sees most use in agricultural and construction machines.
Series production is due to start in the coming year after the current prototype phase. Some
50,000 units per annum will require manufacturing.
“Our clients’ development periods for new parts are becoming shorter and shorter,” states
Thomas Spang, global head of tool management at Mapal.
For the engine block of the new 3.9-litre diesel engine, Mapal only had two weeks after the
design freeze to complete a final offer. When Deutz sent its request, the Tool Management
department in collaboration with the Technology Expert Team (TET) at Mapal in Aalen first
gave some initial thought to the production process.
“To be quick, we don’t concern ourselves with detail at this early stage, but instead pull
together reference tools and concepts from previously completed projects”, explains Harald
Traub, project engineer from TET, who is responsible for planning the entire process. “In this
way, we’re able to specify an approximate budget and the rough scope of the tool package
for the client.”
After initial planning, concrete tool design followed in the second week. Mapal’s offer for
the series production of the motor block included almost 100 different tools. Many of them
are custom tools that achieve short machining time and thus high economic efficiency.
To produce prototypes quickly, a few close-to-standard tools were also specified.
More information www.mapal.com

Floyd releases Schwanog centre drilling system

Now available in the UK from Floyd Automatic Tooling is the new Schwanog interchangeable indexable centre drilling system. Developed to improve the productivity, precision and positioning of drilled holes, the new centre drill system prevents drills from drifting and maintains a chamfer on the drilled hole.

Suitable for everything from one-offs to high-precision series production runs, the Schwanog centre drilling system provides ±0.01 mm repeatability during insert changeovers thanks to an insert pocket seat that locates and clamps the insert. The tool body is available in a range of lengths and diameters to suit application requirements, providing flexibility to accommodate a host of machine tools and application types.

The ‘quick-change’ design of the inserts results in less time spent changing inserts. Schwanog claims that when combined with the tool geometry, the rapid-change system on the new drilling system guarantees a 40% increase in productivity.

Schwanog centre drill designs range from a 60 to 140° point angle and, depending on the workpiece material, it is possible to apply a wide variety of carbide grades and coatings. Users can machine materials that range from aluminium, brass and copper through to steel, stainless and heat-resistant aerospace grade alloys such as Inconel and titanium.

To further enhance the flexibility of the Schwanog centre drill, customers can request interchangeable drill bodies to suit both left-hand and right-hand operations. Furthermore, to enhance flexibility and ease-of-use, customers to utilise the same tool holder for left and right-hand application. Upon request, customers can order the Schwanog centre drill system with edge preparation to reduce potential chatter that may occur with challenging material types. 

More information www.floydautomatic.co.uk

Tiny turning products offer huge results

Tungaloy-NTK UK is giving the small turned-parts industry a ‘shot-in-the-arm’ with a multitude of offers on its latest range of turning technologies. As part of its 2024 promotional offering, the company has a number of special offers that range across the company’s small-part turning, high-feed milling and indexable drilling lines, including the DuoForceCut, MiniV-LockGroove, FaceMiniCut and TinyInternalCut series.

Designed for CNC sliding-head turning centres and cam-driven lathes, DuoForceCut is for turning parts up to 12 mm in diameter. It has the ability to undertake parting-off, front and back turning, threading, and grooving. As part of the 2024 promotional offer, Tungaloy-NTK UK is giving away a free tool holder when customers buy 10 inserts.

For machining intricate and detailed components, Tungaloy-NTK UK has introduced its MiniV-LockGroove range of high-precision grooving and threading tools. Tungaloy-NTK UK is offering manufacturers the opportunity to buy a pack of 10 inserts and get a free tool holder or buy 10 inserts and get one CHP tool holder or CHP head with an additional 50% discount.

The FaceMiniCut is for grooving applications up to 9 mm deep. It features a rigid insert clamping system, as well as inserts with a sharp cutting edge, optimised geometry featuring a chip ‘redirector’ and an advanced SH7025 PVD grade. Again, Tungaloy-NTK UK is giving machine shops the opportunity to try the new system with an offer to buy 10 inserts and receive a corresponding tool holder free-of-charge.

Completing the seasonal offer on small turning tools is the TinyInternalCut series for internal grooving and thread turning in bores down to 5 mm diameter. Customer can buy a pack of 10 inserts and get a corresponding tool holder for free.

More information www.tungaloy.com

Mitsubishi releases tough grade MC6135

Mitsubishi is expanding its MC6100 range of inserts to include MC6135, a tough grade for

applications that range from continuous turning through to rough and interrupted cutting. This new grade will complement the existing range and provide end users with a choice to machine a vast array of steels and of different applications.

MC6135 utilises crystal-orientation control technology that enables thinner but

still impact-resistant coatings for improved chipping and wear resistance. Such features are optimal for use on the tough MC6135 grade. Additionally, the coating is 50% thinner compared with previous types.

In cutting trials of interrupted cutting on DIN 41CrMo4 material, Mitsubishi found the tool life of MC6135 to be 20% more than conventional grades.

Regarding the existing range, MC6115 is a CVD-coated turning grade for steel workpieces that is capable of high-speed machining with its high levels of cutting edge stability. MC6125 grade is versatile, enabling an easy first choice start point when choosing an insert for turning steels and thereby reducing inventory levels.

Both grades have CVD coatings that provide the double benefit of cutting edge stability

and long tool life for machining a wide range of steels, reports the company. MC6115 has the combination of a high hardness base material and new thick Al2O3 outer coating with

improved wear and peeling resistance at high temperatures, while MC6125 has the combination of a tough base material and the advantages of Al2O3 coating. It also has higher peeling resistance and cutting edge stability, achieved through the application of super Tough-Grip technology. This enhances adhesion between the Al2O3 and TiCN base coating layers.

More information www.mmc-carbide.com