Cutting Tools

Rainford Precision: “MACH gets better every time”

“Every MACH exhibition keeps improving on its predecessor,” said Miles Evans, managing director of Rainford Precision, following a successful week at the show.

As a specialist in micro machining, Rainford Precision attended the exhibition to showcase its portfolio of tooling solutions for small-part machining, hard material applications and composite machining. Representing globally recognised brands including Union Tool, Louis Bélet, IWATA, Hufschmied, Delmeco, HOBE and Osawa, the company attracted strong interest.

According to Rainford, many visitors arrived at the stand after struggling to find tooling elsewhere at the exhibition capable of meeting the precision, dimensional accuracy and material demands required by their applications. The company’s range of micro-machining solutions demonstrated capabilities for producing extremely small features and drilling difficult materials beyond the scope of conventional tooling systems.

Particular interest was shown in Union Tool’s HGLB, HWLB, HWLB-S and CWLB series of two-flute ball-nose end mills for machining materials up to 60 HRc. With radii from 0.05 to 3 mm, diameter tolerances of 0/-0.006 mm and ball radius accuracy of ±0.002 mm, the tooling highlighted the level of precision increasingly demanded across industry.

Rainford also introduced the Louis Bélet Excalibur series at MACH for the first time. Featuring inserts brazed to carbide bodies with laser-machined helical geometries, the tooling offers significantly extended tool life compared with solid carbide alternatives, while supporting diameters as small as 0.1 mm.

For manufacturers in aerospace, motorsport, mould and die, and defence, IWATA Tool’s deep-hole drilling technology also attracted strong attention, particularly the ALT-coated three-flute drills capable of achieving H7 tolerances in materials up to 72 HRc.

Evans concluded: “MACH consistently generates a high volume of high-quality leads from manufacturers new to Rainford Precision, and we’re already converting enquiries from the exhibition into new business.”

More information www.rainfordprecision.com

Rising carbide prices: When cermet makes sense

As pressure on global raw material supply chains continues to intensify, manufacturers are increasingly reassessing how cutting tool materials are used throughout the machining process. According to Tungaloy Corporation, carbide remains essential for heavy roughing applications, but its use is not always technically necessary in finishing operations where cutting loads are significantly lower.

In many finishing applications, the focus shifts away from maximum toughness towards process stability, surface quality and efficient material usage. Under these conditions, cermet provides a practical and engineered alternative capable of reducing carbide consumption without compromising machining performance.

Finishing operations typically involve shallow depths of cut, high cutting speeds and continuous or lightly interrupted machining conditions. These are precisely the environments where cermet performs most effectively. Developed from ceramic and metallic components, cermet grades are specifically engineered to deliver high wear resistance, predictable tool life and excellent surface finish in stable machining conditions.

Tungaloy’s cermet range is designed for finishing and light semi-finishing applications in steels and alloy steels. The NS9530 grade provides a balanced combination of wear resistance and toughness for stable finishing operations, while GT9530 is optimised for precision finishing applications where surface quality is critical. The AT9530 grade has been developed specifically for alloy steels, delivering consistent machining performance in continuous cutting conditions.

Rather than attempting to replace carbide universally, Tungaloy emphasises that cermet should be viewed as part of a smarter material allocation strategy. When matched correctly to the application, cermet can help manufacturers reduce dependence on carbide resources, maintain stable productivity and improve overall process efficiency.

More information www.tungaloy.com

Tooling Intelligence delivers strong performance at MACH

Tooling Intelligence has reported a highly successful MACH 2026 following strong interest in its inventory management technologies at the UK’s flagship manufacturing exhibition in Birmingham.

With manufacturers under increasing pressure to improve efficiency while controlling costs, the company used the exhibition to demonstrate how its range of inventory control and asset management solutions can help eliminate waste, reduce downtime and improve accountability across production environments.

Managing director Richard Swaffield said: “It was great to be back at MACH showcasing our inventory management solutions powered by SupplyPro. We were delighted to welcome a high volume of visitors to our stand to discuss how we can support them with their inventory control challenges. The continued rise in cutting tool prices and wider consumable costs means manufacturers are now placing greater emphasis on stock visibility, accountability and automation.”

Among the technologies attracting strong attention was the SmartBin weight-based inventory management system, which provides real-time stock visibility and automated replenishment for consumables including tooling. The SmartDrawer vending solution also proved popular, offering compact, high-capacity storage with individual item control and rapid refill functionality to minimise administration and improve uptime.

The company also showcased its SupplyVend locker systems for managing critical assets such as power tools, laptops and calibrated equipment, as well as the SupplyBay dispensing system for larger industrial consumables and rechargeable equipment.

All systems operate through Tooling Intelligence’s cloud-based SupplySystem intelligent software platform, providing 24/7 reporting, transaction tracking and remote support.

Swaffield concluded: “MACH gave us access to manufacturers actively looking to reduce waste, improve productivity and gain greater control over inventory costs. The response to our solutions was extremely positive, and we look forward to building new partnerships following the exhibition.”

More information www.toolingintelligence.co.uk

TaeguTec raises the bar in high-feed milling cutters

High-feed milling places enormous demands on cutting tools. Feed rates, chip evacuation, surface finish and tool life all directly influence machining productivity, making insert design critical to overall performance. With the launch of its new CHASEFEED SRMT insert line, TaeguTec has introduced a solution engineered to overcome the common limitations associated with conventional high-feed milling inserts.

A key advantage of the new SRMT design is its ability to utilise all four cutting edges fully and equally. In many competing insert designs, adjacent cutting edges become exposed to the cutting zone during machining, leading to premature wear and inconsistent performance. TaeguTec’s optimised insert geometry eliminates this issue by keeping neighbouring edges clear of the cut, allowing each corner to deliver reliable tool life and stable machining performance in succession.

Chip control is another major challenge in high-feed milling operations. Poor chip evacuation can result in chips re-entering the cutting zone, damaging workpiece surfaces, causing insert chipping and even jamming the cutter. The SRMT insert addresses this issue with a geometry designed to direct chips efficiently into the gullet and away from the workpiece. This capability improves surface finish and enables the insert to perform effectively across roughing, semi-finishing and finishing applications.

Sharp cutting edges further enhance performance by reducing cutting forces and improving machining efficiency in difficult materials. Higher feed rates can therefore be maintained without compromising tool life or component quality, reports TaeguTec.

The SRMT range is available in 07, 10 and 14 insert sizes, supported by four dedicated chip former geometries covering steel, stainless steel, cast iron, titanium, superalloys and hard materials.

More information www.taegutec.com

Gurhing reports its busiest ever MACH exhibition

Surrounded by competitors at the recent MACH 2026 exhibition in Birmingham, it was clear that new product innovations, along with diligent, customer-oriented sales and engineering staff, were the key to Guhring’s success. With a stand witnessing a record number of leads, the company says the technology on show is underpinned by the UK’s leading cutting tool manufacturing facility.

Guhring showcased a wide selection of new and established cutting tool solutions, with a clear focus on practical improvements in CNC productivity, reliability and day-to-day machining efficiency. Amid continually rising carbide costs, Guhring presented technology designed to help CNC users machine faster, reduce downtime and achieve more consistent results, shift after shift.

From a product perspective, Guhring launched its new RF 100 AL solid-carbide end mills. The RF 100 AL shortens cycle times and provides material removal rates up to 76% higher than conventional end mills, reports the company.

Guhring also introduced the GHM high-feed milling system. Available in diameters ranging from 16 to 80 mm, the GHM range is designed to remove metal quickly while keeping cutting forces low.

Commenting on the show, Guhring UK sales manager Chris Bush said: “MACH has once again delivered a fantastic pipeline of enquiries for Guhring. Our leads have exceeded all previous shows. We had more visitors with genuine buying intentions.”

He continued: “Many conversations revolved around carbide prices, which no manufacturer can avoid. However, with a UK manufacturing facility that incorporates a phenomenal R&D team, a tool regrinding service and supply chain continuity with over £5m of stock availability, our service is a key differentiator.”

More information www.guhring.co.uk