Monaghan Tooling Group introduces MK Tools’ four-fluted Rambo Speed Drill series of solid-carbide drills, which are said to cut short-chipping material three times faster than traditional solid-carbide tooling. Available in standard sizes from 6 to 20 mm, 4 × D or 6 × D, with through-coolant or non-coolant fed designs.

Source: Monaghan Tooling Group

Standard models feature four-flute geometry with a 30-degree helix angle for optimal chip evacuation, and 130-degree-point self-centering geometry for precision holemaking in materials such as carbon steel, cast iron, grey cast iron, alloys and other short-chipping materials. Manufactured from premium carbide feedstock with the latest generation of CNC grinding machines, each Rambo tool features a chiseled cutting edge for more precise centering. MK Tools Speed Drills from Monaghan Tooling Group are well suited for high-speed applications where efficiency is key, including connecting rods, injection pumps, wheel carriers, guide wheel shafts and more.

With original OEM regrinding, including coatings, Rambo Speed Drills deliver new drill performance and a low cost-per-piece throughout their long service life. All MK Tools standard drills feature GTX coating, a multi-layer aluminum chromium nitride coating that reduces reaming resistance for longer tool life and better chip evacuation. This (and other advanced coating options for optimum performance, new tools and regrinds) is performed in-house to reduce lead times.

Sowa Tool & Machine Co.’s ShrinkSmart shrink-fit machine offers a number of features at an entry-level price point, along with the flexibility to add accessories to the same unit. Users can select their preferred cooling method with accessories that align to their specific needs while their business requirements evolve.

ShrinkSmart’s Smart Coil assesses the distinct resistance of each toolholder to prevent excessive heating, which can lead to hardening or tempering. By doing so, it applies only the correct and suitable amount of heat. Additionally, this feature supports a rapid 2-7 second shrinking cycle.

ShrinkSmart automatically saves energy and conserves toolholder life through the combination of easy-to-use pre-programmed cycles and its Smart Coil. Sowa says the ShrinkSmart machine is well suited for all sizes of machine shops, and now smaller shops can benefit from shrink-fit technology on a slimmer budget due to ShrinkSmart’s lighter sticker price and reduced first-time operator training costs.

Three additional air/water cooling options allow for one to six holders to be cooled up to 75% faster. A rotary table with stop rods gives users a quick way to set the depth of cutting tools easily, while safely switching from the heating to cooling position.

ShrinkSmart seamlessly pairs with Sowa subsidiary GS Tooling’s shrink-fit holders, and is equally compatible with other brands of holders.

Lyndex-Nikken’s MMC Mini-Mini collet chuck is designed to provide accuracy in small-diameter cutting for manufacturers that need more clearance and flexibility in machining. The MMC Mini-Mini collet chuck features a slim and compact body for precision machining with small-diameter tools (up to 0.500"). This will enable high runout accuracy with optimal surface finish and part tolerance.

The MMC collet chuck is well suited for high-speed machining applications where clearance is needed, such as die mold, aerospace and medical parts. The MMC collet chuck is also an alternative to a shrink fit system.

An easy-to-use draw-in collet clamping mechanism (no collet nut required) results in strong, high-precision gripping from the front nose that can access hard to reach areas. Because a collet system is used, tool changeover is faster and less expensive than a toolholding system that requires a machine in order to insert or extract the cutting tool. The collet system for the MMC also allows for a wider range of sizes, while a shrink fit system requires a toolholder for each size of cutting tool.

The MMC collet chuck is said to be precision ground and pre-balanced to 30,000 rpm at G2.5 with runout accuracy of 3 µm at four times the diameter, providing accuracy and reliability during high-speed operations.

The MMC collet chuck is also available in a Taper Plus version, which combines taper accuracy with flange rigidity. Additionally, MMC collet chucks have through-coolant capabilities offered in a standard-style coolant collet or jet slotted-style collet.

General Inspection’s VisionLab gaging system enables first piece inspection, statistical process control (SPC) sampling, final audits or 100% inspection using pick-and-place automation. VisionLab measures all profile characteristics and is the only 3D gaging system that provides complete part measurements in less than seven seconds, according to the company.

The VisionLab system can measure all profile features, including pertinent geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) characteristics as well as all thread features using its optics and software algorithms. An integrated thread database provides point-and-click programming. An optional end-view feature measures and detects defects on both ends of parts measuring features such as recesses, IDs, ODs, through holes and counterbores. Optional surface control is used to detect surface defects, such as bad plating, thread patch presence and quality, as well as measure knurling width, gap and height. Upper tooling and a bit kit are available for uneven parts or parts with a recess drive. VisionLab provides comprehensive data reports and graphs with data collection that can be exported to third-party SPC packages.

VisionLab is designed to be easy to program with Windows-based software. Templates are saved by part number and then recalled for instant inspection. VisionLab is well suited for measuring and inspecting turned components and is intended to be in the lab or on the shop floor so that it can be fully utilized, replacing manual inspection. Three models are available: VisionLab-75, VisionLab-150 and VisionLab-X. The VisionLab-75 can handle parts up to 75-mm length and up to 35-mm diameter. The VisionLab-150 can handle parts up to 150-mm length and 50-mm diameter. For larger sizes the VisionLab-X can be custom-designed to fit most applications.

Tungaloy has upgraded its MiniForceTurn by introducing 30 new DXGQ/U0703 inserts with brazed cubic boron nitride (CBN) tips and an HP chipbreaker. This upgrade is said to boost productivity in hard part turning applications. The CBN inserts will now be sold in newly designed boxes containing five inserts each.

MiniForceTurn turning tool series offers double-sided turning inserts with positive-rake cutting edges on both sides. These inserts enable free cutting action like that of positive inserts with an added advantage of double cutting edges.

The new DXGQ/U0703 inserts feature a 55-degree nose angle with brazed CBN tips that are designed for hard part turning applications. The inserts incorporate HP chipbreaker and use WavyJoint brazing technology for the CBN tips, which are designed to provide enhanced insert reliability during hard part turning. Also, the inserts feature four total cutting edges for better cost-per-part efficiency.

The inserts are available in three coated-CBN grades: BXA10, BXA20 and BR35F, which cover an application range from continuous to interrupted cuts.

The new DXGQ/U0703 CBN inserts fit the existing toolholders: SDXXR/L style toolholders for internal profiling and SDZXR/L style toolholders for internal back spot facing. The enhanced MiniForceTurn CBN inserts are designed to  boost productivity for users involved in internal turning applications of hardened steel parts.

Sumitomo has developed its AC4125K turning grade to lower overall tool usage and tool-change frequency while providing stable, long tool life in cast iron applications in the automotive industry, among others. Gray cast iron is used for parts like engine blocks and brake discs where sliding is required, while ductile cast iron is used for parts such as differential cases and carrier cases where strength is required. Gray cast iron is an alloy primarily composed of carbon and silicon. Gray cast iron appears gray on the fracture surface because carbon is more present in the form of graphite than in the form of cementite. Ductile cast iron contains somewhat more carbon and silicon than gray iron, with the graphite becoming spherical due to the addition of magnesium and/or cerium.

AC4125K is said to be Sumitomo’s first recommended grade for interrupted machining of cast iron. Through the use of Absotech Coating, a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) coating technology, the turning grade provides optimal chipping resistance by maximizing compressive stress to achieve stable and longer tool life for roughing of components such as differential cases and carrier cases. The gold color of the inserts makes it easy to identify used corners, assisting in the improvement of tool management.

Edge Technologies’ second-generation Patriot 338 and 551 include enhanced features, new sheet metal and a new color scheme.

Faster changeovers, ease of use and safety were the driving forces incorporated from customer feedback and thousands of installations, the company says. Edge Technologies has equipped the latest Patriot bar feeder with quick-change guide channel sets, a larger viewing window and an internal LED light bar around the gripper area — features that ease setup and production monitoring. The main bushing device and second movable anti-vibration device (MAVD) are improved to stabilize bar stock between guide channel and lathe spindle, maximizing RPM potential.

The bar feeder also boasts major upgrades to the motion control system and human-machine interface (HMI). The touchscreen control is said to be interactive and easy to program. Programming is powerful and flexible enough to accommodate basic part processing on fixed and sliding headstock lathes as well as more advanced applications. The new Schneider motion control system is the latest in programmable logic controller (PLC) technology with built-in ethernet ports to accommodate advanced interfacing and the ability to push and pull data from a CNC lathe. The machines feature part program storage of 500 jobs.

Seco Tools’ Nanojet solid-carbide reamers enhance chip control with a through-coolant outlet for optimal chip evacuation. According to Seco, this design eliminates costly scrapped parts, jamming and edge damage to increase safety, part quality and tool life.

On blind and through bores, Seco’s Nanojet reamers stop chip jamming and enhance application stability. The specialized design of these new tools delivers a powerful, precise stream of lubrication directly to the cut zone for optimal chip evacuation and tool life. Seco Nanojet solid-carbide reamers maintain cutting speeds as well as part quality, contributing to production stability.

This versatile range of multi-flute reamers comes in eight grades and more than 10 geometries, along with custom sizes and tolerances. The tools reportedly work with any precision toolholder. They hold tolerances from 10 µm-15 µm (0.0004"-0.0006") and produce surface finishes from Ra 0.2 µm-Ra 1.2 µm. Seco inspects each Nanojet solid-carbide reamer and documents its measured diameter for consistent performance.

Seco Nanojet solid-carbide reamers are available in stock and custom diameters down to 0.057" (1.461 mm). Through the online Seco MyDesign tool configurator, shops can obtain customized tools with the stability, reliability and availability of commodity products.

Source: Cetec ERP

The Pre-Allocation feature facilitates the early assignment of materials to specific projects and customers, enabling users to designate a customer or work order directly on the supplier’s purchase order or existing on-hand inventory. The tool ensures that customer-supplied inventory is not shared, and that work orders have appropriate inventory allocated to prevent slowdowns in production. By allowing early inventory assignment, contract manufacturers can address key inventory management challenges, such as preserving customer-supplied inventory for the right jobs, material planning for large projects and programs as well as protecting estimated costs.

For job shop contract manufacturers, Pre-Allocation simplifies the purchasing and material planning process and prevents unnecessary inventory from sitting on the shelf. Large projects can have purchase orders quickly placed and pre-allocated to the job, reducing overhead while also protecting the production schedule and critical need dates.

Pre-Allocation also simplifies material planning and strengthens inventory oversight, ensuring that materials are dedicated to intended projects ahead of production, streamlining operations and enhancing project delivery accuracy.

Horn USA Inc. has combined the features of various toolholders into its 224 grooving system. The new toolholder features two coolant connections, which are made either via a transfer on the contact surface or via a threaded connector on the side. The internal coolant supply is fed directly to the insert via the clamping finger or directly to the flank face via a hole.

Horn offers the toolholder in a compact design as a square shank of dimensions 0.63" × 0.63" (16 mm × 16 mm), 0.787" × 0.787" (20 mm × 20 mm) or 0.984" × 0.984" (25 mm × 25 mm). All toolholder sizes are available from stock for widths of cut of 0.079" (2.0 mm), 0.098" (2.5 mm), 0.118" (3.0 mm), 0.157" (4.0 mm), 0.197" (5.0 mm) and 0.236" (6.0 mm). The tool shanks are made of high-strength steel, which provides high precision of the insert seat and a long service life of the system.