Hard turning has long been used for finishing when it comes to high-volume applications. Now, tooling suppliers have pushed cubic boron nitride (CBN) insert technology further, with geometric innovations that further increase the efficiency—and cost-effectiveness—of hard turning.
Cutting tool and tooling system specialist Sandvik Coromant is adding round geometry (-RM) inserts to its program of CoroCut® QD parting-off and grooving tools.
August 2019 U.S. cutting tool consumption totaled $205.1 million according to the U.S. Cutting Tool Institute (USCTI) and AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology.
Kennametal Inc., Pittsburgh, has formed a 3D printing materials and production business unit, Kennametal Additive Manufacturing, as part of its Infrastructure segment.
Kyocera Precision Tools, Hendersonville, N.C., has introduced a CVD Coated Cermet Grade for production in a wide range of finishing applications. The CCX Grade is a new technology composed of a unique, high-strength cermet insert with a thick layer of CVD coating.
Sunnen Products Co. is expanding its global production footprint, opening a manufacturing facility in Monterrey Mexico to complement its production in the U.S., China, Switzerland, and Brazil. Sunnen, a large, integrated manufacturer of precision bore creation and finishing equipment, will move a portion of its abrasive and tooling products from its St. Louis operation to the Monterrey facility.
The future of the auto industry is interesting but uncertain. No one knows how quickly electric vehicles are going to replace gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles, how completely it will happen, and when it will occur in passenger cars as opposed to SUVs and heavy trucks.
For years, collet-type toolholder assembly and setup have relied on cumbersome, error-prone manual methods that waste time and money.
With much faster processing speeds and higher quality, you might think laser welding would quickly take over the field. But traditional welding hangs on. And depending on who you ask and what applications you consider, it may never go away.
Using lasers to cut metal, especially sheet metal or tubes, continues to show its value. The market is becoming dominated by the newer solid-state fiber laser over its CO2 gas rival. Fiber’s advantages in ease of operation, packaging and efficiency are clear.