Tooling and work-holding equipment manufacturer Ceratizit has recently signed a second sustainability target agreement with bearing giant Schaeffler. The jointly developed sustainability agreements involve prioritising environmentally friendly materials and promoting ethical and eco-friendly practices. They are the result of close collaboration and deepen the long-standing co-operation between the two companies.

In the latest agreement, the companies have agreed on targets for wear protection products made of carbide – a material that due to its durability and reusability, reduces resource consumption over the whole product live span. With the ecological footprint and a further reduction in resource consumption in mind, the Ceratizit portfolio also includes a range of premium carbide grades made from reclaimed carbide powder, which are characterised by a low CO2 footprint.

In the previous agreement, it was decided to focus on the sustainable development and production of high precision cutting tools. First results show lower product carbon footprint (PCF) figures across the portfolio.

“Our ambitious sustainability strategy has enabled us to fulfil the necessary requirements for the two agreements, which underscores our ambition to lead our industry in terms of sustainability,” says Adrien Zoda, director of global sales – hard material solutions at Ceratizit.

Ceratizit’s ambitious sustainability strategy and the progress made in recent years were crucial in meeting the requirements for agreements with Schaeffler. For example, CO₂ emissions of 2023 were reduced by 22% compared with 2020. Another key component for the agreement is the transparency provided by Ceratizit’s PCF information, applicable to both cutting tools and wear protection solutions.

More information www.ceratizit.com

Cutting tool manufacturer Kennametal has made a strategic investment in Toolpath Labs, an emerging leader in AI-powered CAM software. The new partnership supports Kennametal’s growth initiatives to expand its suite of digital capabilities and offerings.

“This partnership represents another bold step in our digital transformation journey,” says Dr Carlonda Reilly, VP and CTO. “Toolpath’s platform amplifies our application engineering expertise through its intuitive, intelligent software. It’s a smart, scalable solution that brings the power of AI right to the shop floor in a practical and impactful way.”

Toolpath’s software integrates AI into the CAM process, optimising tool selection and tool-path strategies. The technology unlocks efficiency for customers and empowers them to overcome industry skill gaps by making advanced tool-path strategies and application engineering more accessible. The partnership will create new opportunities to co-develop and commercialise solutions that combine Toolpath’s AI-first approach with Kennametal’s tooling and application engineering expertise.

“Toolpath represents a compelling opportunity for us to extend what we do best – application expertise and advanced tooling – to a broader audience of customers,” says Dave Bersaglini, president of metal cutting at Kennametal. “Together, we’re building a bridge between human expertise and digital intelligence to deliver measurable performance improvements on the shop floor.”

Al Whatmough, CEO of Toolpath, adds: “Kennametal, a company with deep roots in American manufacturing, is an ideal partner for us not only because of its tooling expertise, but because of our deeply personal shared vision of empowering machinists and transforming the manufacturing world with practical AI. “Together, we’re combining advanced software with real-world application and machining knowledge.”

More information www.kennametal.com

Tooling manufacturer Mapal has developed two sample components for the aerospace sector. These so-called “generic components” cover all the demanding machining steps that may be involved in the production of hydraulic valve housings made of aluminium or torsion links for landing legs milled from titanium.

Wherever something needs to be moved on an aircraft, there is a valve housing. Flaps, rudders, landing gear, engines and other components are controlled by hydraulics. Every plane has many valve housings with different designs. They range from small boxes to blocks measuring half a meter. The machining requirements, however, are similar.

The first generic component created by Mapal measures around 300 x 300 x 300 mm and contains all machining steps that may be involved in manufacturing a valve housing, from pre-machining to finishing. It is deliberately not a replica of a customer component but was designed instead based on the machining requirements of various real-life components. Within the group of companies, Mapal has compiled experience gained worldwide in the machining of such components. All this knowledge has been incorporated into a single sample component.

This involves recommendations from the tool manufacturer for the appropriate machining strategies and cutting data. Several different options are often available to solve a particular problem. Either a PCD tool or a fine boring tool can be used to ream a bore. Or, alternatively, multi-bladed reamers. Each solution has its advantages. The decisive factor is always which advantages suit the customer’s situation.

Valve housings for aerospace are more complicated components than those used in other areas, such as hydraulics for construction machinery. Mapal used over 130 different custom tools for a single housing type in the most complex customer project to date. Manufacturing often involves very thin-walled parts as it is important to minimize weight in the aviation industry. Other challenges include deep bores with cross bores or slots that create interrupted cuts. In addition, the machining of the aluminium used, with its low silicon content, produces very long chips that are difficult to break.

Another generic component that Mapal has developed for the aerospace market segment is a torsion link for the main landing gear on the aircraft. It connects the two cylindrical parts of the landing leg. This design allows the damper cylinder to retract and extend without twisting. This part is also available in various designs.

More information www.mapal.com

Rainford Precision will be emphasising exactly why the company is regarded as a micro-machining expert at the Manufacturing Solutions Ireland exhibition this week. Prominently positioned on Stand 8 in the Lobby Zone, the company will give attendees at the event an insight into why Rainford Precision has bespoke solutions for companies in niche Irish manufacturing segments.

On 11-12 June at the Technological University of Shannon (TUS) in Limerick, Rainford will present technology like the Kern range of five-axis machining centres and cutting tools from global brands.

Kern is renowned for its precision with machine tools that comfortably achieve precision and repeatability levels of ±1 µm during five-axis machining. At the event, experts from Rainford Precision will be presenting the speed, precision and productivity of Kern machines while discussing the multitude of machine installations and applications at some of the most stringently regulated and precision-driven industries in the manufacturing sector.

Rainford Precision will also present its latest cutting tool solutions from brands such as Union Tool, Louis Bélet, Delmeco, Gloor, HOBE, Osawa, DTS, Iwata, 6C Tools, Swissceramill and ATOM. The respective partners specialise in the manufacture of drills, end mills, reamers, boring bars, thread mills and slitting saws.

Within this diverse portfolio are tools for specialist applications and material types, such as the Hufschmied brand of milling tools. The Graftor series of end mills (pictured) from Hufschmied is specifically for machining graphite, and the range can double productivity rates and tool life when compared with rival tools, reports Rainford Precision.

More information www.rainfordprecision.com

Seco has expanded and updated its portfolio of threading taps with the addition of two specialised and general-purpose tool families. The company’s new T30 taps increase flexibility and reliability across a wide range of materials, while the new T35 taps deliver high threading performance for specific materials to optimise high-volume production environments.
Seco T35 taps include options for various material groups, including T35-P for alloyed steels, T35-K for cast irons, T35-H for tough, abrasive materials and T35-N for aluminium. T35-P, T35-K and T-35H taps all feature a TiAlSiN coating applied via HiPIMS technology. This design provides a smooth, hard and crack-resistant surface for wear resistance and long, predictable tool life.

According to Seco, T35-N taps achieve “excellent tool life and part quality in aluminium thanks to smooth, large flutes that facilitate efficient chip formation and evacuation”.

Seco product manager Radoslaw Zdanowski says: “Manufacturers that need to thread a high volume of holes within a specific material group will find significant value in the T35 family. By applying a T35 tap matched to the part material, shops will gain longer tool life and threading reliability, resulting in increased process security and improved cost performance.”

Suitable for high-mix, low-volume production, Seco T30 taps feature a universal geometry for use across many materials. The flexibility of T30 tools allows shops to simplify their tooling inventory by replacing rarely used specialised tools that are tailored to specific applications.

More information www.secotools.com