When weighing the choice of replaceable-tip mills and drills or solid-carbide tools, consider this succinct statement from one industry expert: carbide equals cost.
Many job shops hold onto traditional, inexpensive tooling systems. ER collets and Weldon flats are tried and true; they work and are proven. At the same time, newer, advanced machining technology, such as multi-axis machines, may perform better when newer, advanced (and more expensive) toolholders are deployed.
It’s a sad fact of practically all metal removal operations that, no matter how sharp the tool or free-machining the material, there are going to be burrs, hanging chads, ragged corners, and other edge quality issues that must be dealt with before calling the workpiece complete.
Metrology-grade laser scanners are expanding their range of applications. New users are finding the main attractions of laser scanners—speed and ease of use. What prevented more widespread use in the past were laser scanners’ perceived tradeoffs. Using one usually meant sacrificing accuracy or working with noisy data.
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.
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.
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.
Vollmer of America has announced an Open House Celebration for its new facility in Findlay Township, Pa., scheduled for Oct. 22-23. Vollmer broke ground on May 11, 2019 at the new site, near Pittsburgh International Airport.
On March 25, 2020 Hexagon's Manufacturing Intelligence division announced it is offering a range of free offline licensing and remote access options designed to enable efficient home working for manufacturing professionals facing new productivity challenges during the COVID-19 outbreak.
