INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Ferocious five-flute milling with latest VariMill

The Widia VariMill series is once more seeing improvement with the arrival of the new VariMill Chip Splitter range, which is available in the UK from Industrial Tooling Corporation (ITC).

Designed for dynamic milling, ramping, helical interpolating and side milling at high speeds and feed rates, the new VariMill Chip Splitter series delivers high levels of chip control that allows the tool to run with a longer axial depth-of-cut while productively diving into deep pockets in steel, stainless steel and high-temperature alloys. Suitable for cutting materials ISO groups P, M, K, S and H, ITC says that the new series is a genuine high-performance tool that delivers exceptional material removal rates.

Presented as a five-flute solid-carbide end mill that is available in Widia’s WP15PE and WS15PE carbide grades, the VariMill Chip Splitter has features that improve chip evacuation by breaking the chips into the smallest possible segments. This simplifies swarf removal from the work area, and improves cutting speeds and feeds when processing small pockets up to 5xD or when machining at full depth-of-cut.

The five-flute end mills are available with a straight or Weldon shank in 3xD or 5xD variants. Straight shank 3xD end mills are available in 10, 12 and 16 mm diameters with the Weldon shank designation also offering a 20 mm diameter variant. The 3xD tools have a flute length from 32 to 60 mm with an overall length of 80 to 125 mm. Similarly, the 5xD plain shank variant is available from 10 to 20 mm diameter with the Weldon shank also offering an 8 mm diameter variant.
For further information www.itc-ltd.co.uk

Nine-edge cutters lift circular milling productivity

Groove, cut-off and gear milling are just three processes that the circular interpolation milling system from Horn now performs even more productively following the introduction of a range of tools with nine cutting edges. The system can be used from an inside diameter of 8 mm for the precise boring of grooves down to 0.25 mm wide, or for milling splines. Standard tools and special variants are available.

Smaller diameter circular interpolation mills from Horn were previously available with exchangeable heads having a maximum of six teeth. Three extra cutting edges offer higher material removal rates, raising productivity by shortening cycles and, at the same time, extending tool life. In addition, the cutters run more quietly and with less vibration compared with tools having fewer teeth. Consequently, the dimensional accuracy and surface finish of components see improvements.

Horn stocks the nine-edged milling systems M911, M913 and M928 in widths from 1.5 to 3 mm. Maximum milling depths are 3.5, 4.5 and 6.5 mm respectively. The cutter heads are available with different coatings to suit the material in cut. Due to its mass, the solid-carbide tool shank ensures vibration damping during milling. Horn designed all variants of the shank for internal coolant supply.
For further information www.phorn.co.uk

Partnership is perfect medicine for Permedica

Business has been growing so quickly for Italian medical implant manufacturer Permedica that it can barely keep up with demand. However, a new strategy for its CNC department, in partnership with Seco Tools, has started to make a notable increase to its productivity.

“One of our machines could not operate at night due to the programming and the kinds of tools we were using,” explains Permedica sales manager Federico Perego. “The material was overheating, which was stopping the machine and meant that it couldn’t be programmed to operate automatically during the night.”

He continues: “Seco were always very direct in relation to the issue and in proposing a better solution. They didn’t make a promise they couldn’t keep, and they didn’t just try to sell us tools. Instead, they helped us to solve what was an important issue.”

One of the Seco Tools Italy team working with Permedica, manufacturing transformation manager Matteo Foglietta, says: “We were able to address swarf issues that were a big problem for the night shift. So Permedica has gained not only more productivity in terms of a shorter cycle time, but also an increase in machine capacity during the unmanned nightshift. This is also thanks to the global competence from our innovation hub that we can bring to the customer side through local and technical expertise here in Italy.”

Perego estimates that this initial success has helped to increase Permedica’s productivity by more than 40%. Now further initiatives, including the installation of tool vending machines to help with warehouse management, are underway.

“So far, we’re very satisfied,” says Perego. “There are still headaches to solve, but I hope we can continue with this great start and achieve important things together because there is a lot of complexity in our business, and we need many resources to support this. Permedica is reacting to the help being provided by Seco by placing more orders for tools, so it’s a win-win relationship.”
For further information www.secotools.com

XTR bridges gap between bi-metal and carbide

Bi-metal and carbide are two commonly used types of bandsaw blades for cutting a wide range of materials. Most know bi-metal blades for their versatility and cost-effectiveness, which makes them a popular choice. On the other hand, carbide bandsaw blades are highly durable and best suited for cutting materials that are extremely hard or abrasive.Transitioning from bi-metal to carbide can be a significant leap for many end users due to the required investments in machinery and in the saw itself.

The Starrett XTR is an innovative bi-metal saw that offers an intermediate option between traditional bi-metal and carbide technology. This solution is specifically for cutting high-alloy steels and other difficult-to-cut materials in larger dimensions.

Designed to give improved performance, Starrett made the technology possible through a combination of state-of-the-art software and specialist expertise. XTR technology is now part of the company’s main products, Intenss PRO M42 and Primalloy M51, which cut solid materials in both series production and bundles. This new addition allows Starrett products to provide high-quality results while improving efficiency and cost-effectiveness compared with carbide solutions.

Starrett applies a special treatment to its XTR blades, guaranteeing high fatigue resistance in addition to their exclusive tooth profile design. These innovations significantly increase the life of the product, providing more speed and quality in their work, and delivering greater cost benefits for extreme process cutting.

By utilising XTR blades, Starrett says users alsoenjoy reduced vibration and quieter cutting processes. The unique tooth profile and setting also enhance durability, extending product lifespan and allowing for more cutting operations. This leads to a decrease in cost per operation over time.
For further information www.starrett.co.uk

Addison Saws reports from TIMTOS 2023

The Taiwan International Machine Tool Show, better known as TIMTOS, has been a go-to event for major players in the global machine tool industry for over 30 years.The recently concluded 30th edition of TIMTOS continued this legacy, attracting over a thousand exhibitors and 45,000 visitors from all around the world.

Addison Saws sent its recently appointed managing director Chris Wilson and the company’s sales team to the much-anticipated event. The whole team was eager to visit some of the company’sprincipals, learn aboutthe latest innovations and look for new suppliers.

Addison had a trio ofmajor suppliers exhibiting at the show, including Everising Saws, which is one of Addison’s longest-serving principals. Indeed, the company celebrated 40 years of trading during TIMTOS,an achievement the Addison team was keen to show its support for, having enjoyed a fruitful business relationship for nearly four decades. Among the stand-out products were two brand-new sawing machines, the VH-5060 vertical block and plate saw, and the CSP-0806 slab circular saw.
In line with the 2023 show’s theme, Everising filled its stand with high-tech sawing solutions, putting the E350 high-speed, high-performance CNC bandsaw in the spotlight along with the ultra-high speed P75-ILA carbide billet sawing system. Of course, no exhibition would be complete without Everising’s sought-after horizontal bandsaws, which were also on show.
Talking about expandingits range of metal cutting saws with additional suppliers, Wilson says: “We’ve been working hard to ensure that we select the right suppliers, growing our product range to meet the needs of customers and the manufacturing industry at large. After extensive research and some great meetings at TIMTOS we’re happy to say we found several new suppliers, so watch this space!”
For further information www.addisonsaws.co.uk