Aerospace machining encompasses machines small and large. These range from the Tornos SwissNano to the Makino MAG3, as Rich Sullivan put it. He is the OEM manager for Iscar Metals Inc., Arlington, Texas.
As additive manufacturing (AM) moves from prototypes to mass production, manufacturers are setting their sights on the holy grails—the products and processes that will be game-changers. Many game-changers are already in play.
As with any digital transformation process, the devil is in the details, and there are many potential pitfalls that can derail projects.
While precision, part programs and productivity have improved markedly, the basic process is still the same.
IMCO Carbide Tool has launched a new series of endmills for extreme tool paths in aluminum alloys and provide superior surface finishes in aerospace industry applications.
Sandvik has signed an agreement to acquire 67 percent of Chuzhou Yongpu Carbide Tools Co., Ltd, a China-based maker of solid round tools, with a call option to buy the remaining part in three years.
BLM GROUP USA has added more processing power to its LS5 and LC5 flat sheet laser cutters with the new option of a 10kW fiber laser source.
Shifts in microchip-making to aid automotive, medical
As one of the oldest and most prestigious research-lead universities in Europe, KU Leuven is an institution that is always seeking to innovate and stay on top of the latest trends and technologies. When it comes to manufacturing, the institution is an advocate of additive processes and dedicates a research group to the technology.
Solid-carbide round tools have seemingly been around forever; before them, high-speed steel (HSS) tools ruled the roost, and after them a growing selection of alternative processes like indexables, EDM, waterjet and now additive manufacturing emerged as competition.
