THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

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

Open house success for Trumpf

Another successful open house took place at Trumpf’s UK headquarters in Luton last month, where the company opened the doors to customers so they could see the latest machine tool and laser technology solutions.As in previous years, the 2023open house was proof of the need to meet with customers personally and, once again, Trumpf was delighted with the number of visitors who walked through the door.

Trumpf welcomed 170 visitors over the two days, with the company taking several orders. During the day, visitors had the opportunity to choose from various technology presentations, including EdgeLine Bevel for automatic chamfer creation, laser cutting, automated welding, and the latest sheetmetal software developments with TrumpfOseon.There was also prime opportunity to see the latest laser cutting, punching, welding, bending and laser marking technology in live action.
For further information www.trumpf.com

Mills CNC confirms SPE attendance

Mills CNC, the exclusive distributor of DN Solutions and Zayer machine tools in the UK and Ireland, will exhibit at SPE Offshore Europe 2023, the offshore industry’s leading conference and exhibition taking place in Aberdeen on 5-8 September.The company, through its CNC machine tool technologies, automation systems, and turnkey and process improvement solutions, aims to strengthen its already-strong presence in the oil and gas, subsea, and renewables sectors through its attendance at the show (stand 2K64).

“SPE Offshore Europe is an important event for Mills CNC,” states John Morning, Mills CNC’s business manager for Scotland.“It gives us an opportunity to meet customers and prospects, understand their immediate and future machining requirements, and discuss ways in which our technologies can help them achieve their objectives.”
For further information www.millscnc.co.uk

Nikken CEO becomes MTA acting president

Nikken CEO and president Tony Bowkett is the latest acting president of the Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA). With more than 30 years of experience as managing director and founder of Nikken Kosakusho Europe, Bowkett is responsible for the success of the company’s activities, including multiple subsidiaries within the Nikken Europe Group thattogether operate in excess of 23 countries. He says: “During my presidency, I would like to make it my mission to engage with MTA members and represent their best interests on local, national and international platforms.”
For further information www.mta.org.uk

College hosts landmark Haas facility

West Nottinghamshire College (WNC) has become the UK’s first Gene Haas Centre for Advanced Manufacturing, bringing a major investment in engineering facilities and training programmes for students, apprentices and employers.The link-up will see the college awarded £500,000 to develop its engineering facilities and employer-focused curriculum, aimed at growing the number of skilled manufacturers in the local area and beyond.

The money will fund improvements to the college’s Engineering Innovation Centre in Sutton-in-Ashfield, by remodelling the building to dedicate a larger area of its groundfloor to manufacturing, automation and robotics. WNC will also construct a new mezzanine floor containing classrooms overlooking the existing open-plan workshop space.In addition, the college will rebrand the building, which currently boasts six Haas CNC machines used by engineering students and apprentices, as the Gene Haas Centre for Advanced Manufacturing.
For further information www.wnc.ac.uk