Ceratizit UK & Ireland is reporting “tremendous uptake” of its offer for free test tools, heavily discounted production tools, and technical support for those companies involved in the manufacture of ventilator and other related diagnostic equipment for the NHS during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Over 20 customers have so far benefitted from the cutting tool discount of 70% and whatever technical support they need to maximise the potential of those tools.
“The number of customers that we are able to help is increasing day-by-day,” says Tony Pennington, managing director. “It is testament to the versatility and ingenuity of the UK manufacturing base that they are able to quickly switch from machining parts for racing cars and aircraft, for example, to components that are going to help save lives. For many it means working with unfamiliar materials, which is where we can add our experience to the mix.”
Technical support is being provided remotely by Ceratizit UK & Ireland’s applications and technical sales engineers, with over 30 engineers available to answer customer questions relating to cutting tool data and application. For example, industry solutions engineer Michael May says the company has been supporting one customer from the motorsport sector, which is working as part of the UK Government’s Ventilator Challenge UK project.
“Initially, the request was for high-performance drills to produce holes up to 16xD in aluminium and steel,” he says. “We were then asked to develop our support through the provision of AluLine end mills and PCR-ALU plunge milling cutters.”
The offer from Ceratizit UK & Ireland is open to any company manufacturing parts for ventilator or associated diagnostic equipment.
For further information www.ceratizit.com

The B21*SGL solid-carbide drill with through-coolant has been unveiled by Kennametal. Designed for stainless steel, nickel and cobalt-based alloys, the B21*SGL with patented point geometry and monolayer PVD AlTiN coating, is said to deliver improved productivity and longer tool life in aerospace and energy sector applications.

Frank Martin, product manager – solid-carbide drills, says: “In customer tests, the B21*SGL consistently outperforms competing drills, producing more holes in less time, with improved hole straightness and surface quality. The new design virtually eliminates the risk of chipping and flaking that lead to drill failure. And thanks to a unique point gash, it offers the lowest thrust level on the market, enabling productive drilling even in delicate workpiece geometries.”
Among the problems with aerospace alloys is their tendency to stick to the cutting tool, leading to built-up edge and corner chipping. The B21*SGL’s proprietary gash geometry, polished cutting edge, negative rake corner margin and ‘chip-friendly’ flute design, mitigates these effects, while encouraging chip evacuation and reducing cutting forces.
“Several customers have seen tool life improve by two to six times in a variety of challenging materials, even after increasing feed rates by up to 50% in some cases,” says Martin.
Drilling is a critical machining process, especially for those producing turbines. As the operation typically comes near the end of the production cycle, when workpieces are at maximum value, a broken drill can damage or even destroy components worth thousands of pounds.
Matthieu Guillon, key account manager – aerospace, says: “This new solid-carbide drill will bring value to anyone needing to drill large numbers of holes in Inconel, titanium, PH-series stainless steels and other heat-resistant super alloys.”
For further information www.kennametal.com

Kyocera has introduced its MECHT range of indexable milling cutters. Due to its tool geometry, MECHT is suited to applications in shoulder face milling, plunge cutting and slot milling, as well as ramping. Like the entire MEC series from Kyocera, MECHT offers a positive and very light-cutting action, which achieves 90° shoulders and smooth surfaces.

Compared with conventional milling cutters in this category, the Kyocera product is characterised by a new combination of insert sizes. The larger bottom inserts are positioned at the first stage of the tool holder to handle higher cutting forces. This configuration stabilises titanium alloy machining and improves fracture resistance. At the same time, the design ensures higher reliability, as the bottom inserts are held in place by double-faced contacts. Another advantage is that the new flute design prevents chips from clogging.
The chip breakers require a significantly lower cutting force than other cutters, says the company. Due to this extremely sharp cutting performance, heat development at the cutting edge is kept to a minimum, which again ensures long tool life. Furthermore, MECHT was developed with heat-resistant MegaCoat Nano coating technology. The tough PVD-coating (PR1535) increases the breaking strength of the product, as well as the stable and long-lasting application possibilities.
For further information https://uk.kyocera.com/

A high-precision, quick-change tooling system has been launched by Dormer Pramet for a variety of internal and external turning applications. Suitable for use on multi-tasking machines, the polygon shank coupling (PSC) is a spindle interface which promotes higher productivity through reduced set-up time and faster, more precise machining, reports the company.

Dormer Pramet’s PSC achieves this performance by deploying a tapered polygon cone shank and flange surface, which supports a high degree of rigidity. With accuracy in X, Y and Z of ±2 µm, PSC holders provide a high level of repeatability. In addition, a reduced overhang length minimises vibration and runout inaccuracy for a high-quality surface finish, making it suitable for both aerospace and general machining applications.
Connected by a triangular conical structure and cross section, which uses 1/20 taper, the PSC features internal coolant channels and a steel tool holder. More than 130 items are available, including a variety of tool-holder styles, internal tools, interface types and shank sizes.
For further information www.dormerpramet.com

The 108 and 114 Mini tooling systems from Horn have been extended through the addition of new inserts with GM threading geometry that is suitable for turning ISO metric internal threads. Availability in the UK and Ireland is through the German manufacturer’s UK subsidiary, Horn Cutting Tools.

Horn’s chip-breaking geometry generates short lengths of swarf, even when processing what are normally long-chipping materials and those that are difficult to machine. The swarf is easier to handle, the risk of chip build-up is reduced and ‘bird nesting’ around the tool and component is avoided, reducing lathe stoppage time and increasing productivity.
Using the 108 system, users can produce metric internal threads from M10 with pitches of 0.5 to 1.25 mm, while the 114 system is suitable for pitches up to 2.5 mm. The inserts are available in partial and full profile design. Standard, low-vibration, carbide turning tool holders from the Mini system may be used, enabling the production of high surface finishes, even on deep threads, and ensuring high process reliability.
Mini-type inserts screwed on to the face of the holder are among Horn’s core products for turning and milling applications. The tools are especially suited to internal profiling and internal grooving. Furthermore, the Mini system range offers inserts with different geometries, substrates and CBN or diamond coatings in a variety of sizes for various internal diameters.
For further information www.phorn.co.uk