SRD futureproofs its machining practices

we are determined to stay at the top of our game.Futureproofing the company means that we SRD is a 150+ employee engineering company based in Bicester which specialises in manufacturing automotive parts in short lead times. For many years, SRD relied on tried and tested machining techniques,but with higher demand for products there comes a need to fulfil more orders at a quicker rate. The company turned to Ceratizit for help.

Ceratizit examined SRD’s machining processes, inserts and tools, and outlined some areas for improvement. Furthermore, Ceratizit set up a tooling ‘swap out’, where SRD could test inserts without expense.It was not long before SRD began to achieve some impressive results. For example, in some instances, SRD began making a time saving of 30-40% on roughing cycles. Tool life also increased through the use of Ceratizit’s inserts, and its EcoCut inserts are now in use across the workshop. The wide selection of tooling and inserts available in Ceratizit’s extensive catalogue also meant that SRD was able to find the appropriate tools for each job. Furthermore, the constant line of communication between Ceratizit and SRD meant that technical support was always on hand.

Ceratizit’s regular visits allowed the tooling specialist to get intimately acquainted with SRD Engineering’s machines and machining needs, ensuring that its recommendations would be sure to make a positive impact.

Jack Wignall, business developer at SRD, says:“Ceratizit encouraged us to continue growing. It’s a good reminder that there’s always room for improvement in engineering, no matter how efficient you think your processes are. I definitely think this is the start of continuous improvement for SRD and need to be up to date with tooling and machining techniques.”
For further information www.ceratizit.com

Guhring end mills dive into micro-milling

Guhring is extending its Diver end mill series into the micro-machining sector. Claimed as the ‘smallest diver in the world’, the new RF100 Micro Diver end mills provide plunging and milling in a single tool. Available in two variants, the 6808 and 6809, the RF100 Micro Diver features a symmetrical drilling face for stability when ramping and drilling, a new transition geometry to improve rigidity, and a special flute form that further enhances rigidity and eliminates vibration.

The RF100 Micro Diver 6808 series is a three-flute solid-carbide end mill suitable for cutting materials up to 48 HRc at depths up to 2.5xD. With a 40° helix angle to evacuate chips from the work area when conducting high-speed machining, the 6808 series is available with a H5 4 or 6 mm shank diameter and a H8 cutting diameter from 0.79 to 3.175 mm with a multitude of dimensional increments available. This range has an overall length from 38.1 to 50.8 mm and a cutting length from 1.97 to 7.93 mm, with the choice of four or six peripheral through-coolant channels available. To enhance tool life further, the end mills incorporate a 45° corner chamfer to prevent edge chipping when machining challenging materials.

Guhring’s new RF100 Micro Diver 6809 series is for the machining of pockets and slots up to 5xD. Like the shorter length variant, the 6809 series offers the choice of four or six peripheral through-coolant channels, a H5 4 or 6 mm shank diameter and a 45° corner chamfer to prevent edge chipping. In comparison to the shorter 6808 variant, the 6809 offers an overall tool length from 45 to 57.15 mm with a 5.00 to 15.87 mm cutting length.
For further information www.guhring.co.uk

Floyd launches expanded PCD turning range

According to Floyd Automatic Tooling, the Applitec TOP-Line 700 series is the tool of choice for precision turning, parting, grooving and profiling on small turning centres and sliding-head lathes. Applitec,which has its headquarters in Switzerland,isexpanding its range with the introduction of an entire line of PCD-tipped inserts that are now available in the UK from Floyd Automatic.

With the introduction of this line of PCD inserts, Floyd Automatic can present the benefits to manufacturers machining a diverse range of non-ferrous materials, including precious metals, copper, brass and bronze, through to more challenging materials such as aluminium alloys, composites, thermoplastics, graphite and lead-free brass.

With its serrated insert teeth, corresponding tool-holder and two insert screws that combine to deliver precision and repeatability, Floyd Automatic says the Applitec 700 series provides rigidity, stability, high performance and astounding surface finishes. Utilising Applitec’s proprietary twin-screw offset teeth insert location system, the two clamping screws pull the teeth together so the insert does not vibrate.

Like the existing carbide version of coated indexable inserts in the 700 series, the new 700 PCD line is available with a range of parting-off inserts, front and back turning inserts, and grooving and turning inserts. Each of the cutting tools for the respective processes is available in a range of geometries, insert widths, lengths and radii, with both left and right-hand designations to cater for the diverse needs of the marketplace.

The TOP-Line 700 PCD series will extend tool life and deliver more consistent results when compared with solid-carbide tools, reports Floyd Automatic: months rather than weeks or days. In addition, the latestseries can run at machining parameters up to 10 times faster than solid-carbide tools, reducing lead times and increasing throughput.
For further information www.floydautomatic.co.uk

New WalterKrato-tec coating advanced drill

With its X•treme Evo Plus drill, Walter is launching a new tool in the DC180 Supreme product range. Krato•tec coating technology for drilling and reaming tools now extends the market potential of these solid-carbide drills. This is credit to the WJ30EZ grade – developed in-house at Walter – with an AlTiN multi-layer coating that enables the drills to reach high cutting speeds. It also makes the drill suitable for universal use in all ISO materials from groups P, M, K, N, S and H.

When compared with alternative products, the DC180 Supreme has a tool life that is up to 50% longer, reports Walter. The drill with internal coolant channels is for use with emulsions, oil and MQL. Its geometry incorporates a straight cutting edge that gives it a high level of stability and process reliability. Walter offers the DC180 Supreme with a diameter from 3 to 20mm for a diverse range of applications.

As standard, Walter is introducing the DC180 Supreme in dimensions of 3xD in accordance with DIN 6537 short and also 5xD following DIN 6537 long to its range. The tool specialist can also offer special tools with intermediate sizes and step drills upon request with short delivery times via its Walter Xpress service.

Walter Xtreme Evo Plus drills from the DC180 range are part of the Supreme product line for large-quantity production runs and heavy-duty drilling operations. Thanks to its long tool life, high productivity and high wear resistance in demanding applications, Walter says that the DC180 Supreme reduces costs and is suitable for difficult machining operations.
For further information www.walter-tools.com

CVD-coated carbide grades for steel turning

Kyocera Corporation is introducing new CVD coating materials, CA115P and CA125P, for turning insert grades used in automotive and industrial steel machining. The new coating technologies achieve a high level of wear and fracture resistance, resulting in a long tool life. In addition, Kyocera is launching a PMG chip breaker, which covers a range of machining applications, along with the new insert grades.

The new CA115P and CA125P insert grades – the main grades for external and internal turning for steel machining – have a newly developed coating and carbide substrate. According to Kyocera, the coating achieves the industry’s highest level of uniformity in alumina crystal orientation through the company’s proprietary crystal-forming technology during the CVD process, which helps to ensure outstanding wear resistance.

By combining this ultra-uniform alumina layer with a proprietary TiCN layer and new carbide substrate offering greater high-temperature strength, the insert grades achieve higher wear resistance and fracture resistance, as well as long tool life and stable machining. In addition, the PMG chip breaker supports various machining conditions, from medium machining to roughing, making it possible to consolidate tools and deliver productivity improvements.

CA125P grades support a wide range of machining conditions, from continuous to heavy interrupted machining, and are highly versatile main grades. CA115P grades are for high-efficiency machining in continuous to light-interrupted machining, contributing to productivity improvement through long tool life and stable machining.

Kyocera’s new PMG chip breaker achieves smooth chip evacuation in medium roughing. In addition, the low-cutting-force design of the cutting edge suppresses crater wear on the rake face, which enables lasting chip evacuation.
For further information www.kyocera.co.uk