Walter has extended its range of Xtra·tec XT milling cutters to cover diameters 50, 63 and 80 mm with the addition of the M5250 helical mill. The company says that its latest generation of indexable-insert milling cutters is characterised by high performance paired with process reliability.

These capabilities are credit to features like a reinforced insert pocket and insert seat. Moreover, each individual tooth on the M5250 has separate cooling. Walter uses proven, double-edged BC 1605 system inserts on the face of the M5250, and allows users to choose between various corner radii, cutting tool materials and geometries.

The G51 geometry (“the quiet one”) is for applications likely to incur vibration, or for tools with long projection lengths. In contrast, G55W cutting inserts with Walter WaveCut geometry are suitable for titanium components with high volume removal requirements, such as those found in the aerospace industry. Walter uses milling cutter-specific SC 1105 cutting inserts with four cutting edges as peripheral inserts.

In addition to steel, cast iron and materials with difficult cutting properties, the helical milling cutter is also suitable for use on aluminium and other non-ferrous metals. Unlike other fully effective helical milling cutters, Xtra·tec XT milling cutters can also be used for full slotting alongside shoulder milling, pocket milling and ramping.

As well as flexibility and process reliability (thanks to the operational smoothness of the cutter), Walter says the high machining volume results from the effective design of the mill and reduced process costs. These lower costs stem from the two or four useable cutting edges per indexable insert, along with new wear-resistant Tiger·tec cutting tool materials.

More information www.walter-tools.com

Allied Machine and Engineering, a manufacturer of hole-making and finish-cutting tools, has expanded it T-A Pro replaceable-insert drilling line into the Y series. With a diameter range of (9.5-11.09 mm), T-A Pro Y series is available in stub to 15xD and ISO-specific carbide grades P, K, and N, as well as high-speed steel substrate X. 

Adding the Y series to the diameter offering of the T-A Pro line, which has a complete range of (9.5-47.8 mm), gives machine shops using high-speed steel twist drills and conventional style tools the opportunity to upgrade to a better system.

Additionally, for those using solid-carbide tooling, the Y series offers exchangeable tips, eliminating the need for regrinding, while also providing the ability to target specific materials and applications with an ISO-specific geometry selection on a single holder body. Ultimately, T-A Pro Y series benefits smaller scale part runs in various industries because of its favourable cost per hole. 

Like the T-A Pro Z series, the Y series is available in A and B body diameters. Offered in both imperial and metric as well as flat and cylindrical shanks for all length options, the Y series serves as an upgrade to manufacturing processes while also allowing machinists to increase throughput in their machining applications.  

John Weniger, product manager, says: “The T-A Pro line has established itself in the market as a go-to drilling solution that over-delivers on performance, reliability and consistency. The expansion of the T-A Pro drilling line into the Y series allows users to experience the benefits of the T-A Pro line at smaller diameters.” 

More information www.alliedmachine.com

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

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