April 2021 U.S. cutting tool consumption totaled $170 million. This total was down 4.3 percent from March's $177.6 million but up 26.3 percent when compared with the $134.6 million reported for April 2020.
Selecting the best type of cutting tool for holemaking jobs is not always clear. It is best to have a drill that caters to the workpiece material, produces the specs required, and provides the most profit for the job at hand. Considering the variety of jobs and parts manufactured in machine shops, there is no “one-drill-fits-all.”
The new i-ONE system of exchangeable micrograin carbide drill inserts and premium tool steel holders with coolant channels is based on coating advances and optimized designs for higher tool life and changeover speed, according to tool manufacturer YG-1.
GWS Tool Group has acquired Taurus Tool & Engineering. Taurus, based in Batavia, Illinois. It is the first acquisition in 2021 for GWS Tool Group, following three previous acquisitions in 2020.
The Industry 4.0 & Smart Manufacturing Adoption Report by IoT Analytics suggests that Industry 4.0 technology uptake is still low among manufacturers.
Prima Power Laserdyne recently presented a Zeiss high-resolution microscope to the welding program leaders of Anoka Technical College as the college expands its robotic and laser welding program.
March 2021 U.S. cutting tool consumption totaled $177.6 million, up 18.8 percent from February's $149.5 million and down 2.6 percent when compared with the $182.3 million reported for March 2020.
New features mean more choices in cutting with inserts
On paper, it should have been smooth sailing. When Fairbanks Morse installed a robotic welding cell at its Beloit, Wis. headquarters, the goal was to increase output of the massive marine propulsion systems they manufacture.
Some trends in machining remain constant. Machine speeds continue to increase. Difficult-to-cut materials are used more frequently.