Friday, April 17, 2009

Ingersoll Swiss-Style & Live Tooling Cutters

Exclusive Swiss-Style & Live Tooling Cutters

Ingersoll announces exclusive integral collet tooling for their Hi-PosMicro indexable end mills and Chip-Surfer solid carbide tipped tooling lines!

Replace worn tooling with less downtime on your machine with .0005î axial and radial repeatability. Precision threads with simultaneous fit heads maximize the rigidity of your tooling application and reap the benefits of increased productivity with higher feed rates, better finishes and longer tool life.

The economy of indexability and higher feed rate capability of the Hi-PosMicro end mill tips allow you to exceed your previous throughput at lower costs. The versatility and wide range of Chip-Surfer tips complete your tooling requirements while offering premium carbide grades and coatings to be applied to the widest range of materials.

For more information be sure to contact your local Ingersoll representitive



Sunday, April 12, 2009

BF Milling Cutter from Valenite


BF Milling Cutter from Valenite

No burrs - Outstanding surface finish quality!

Great for Facing:

Aluminum
Steel
Cast Iron
Bi Metal

WHAT IS THE BF MILLING CUTTER?
  • Non-conventional milling cutter with a fully innovative design based on the broaching technology
  • Unique axial and radial positioning of the inserts which allows each of them to remove constant chip thickness
  • A single insert provides the quality of the machined surface
  • Maximum optimizing of the number of teeth.
What does this mean for you?

1. Facing with no deburring
2. Full control of the quality parameters of the parts
3. Outstanding surface quality
4. No insert adjustment
5. Reduction of the cost-per-part of 30%
6. 66% reduction in set-up time
7. High-feed machining with a reduced number of teeth


If you would like to learn more about the BF Milling Cutter or looking for Valenite Carbide Inserts, Google Keyword: Valenite Carbide Inserts

Friday, April 10, 2009

Quick Tips for Face Machining





Very Cool 5 Face Machining Center


Here are three easy recommendations to help choose the right tool for high performance in face machining operations.

1. Choose the widest possible insert and tool, according to the cutting width and geometry to be machined.

2. Choose the shortest tool blade overhang, according to the maximum depth required.

3. Choose the tool range with the largest diameter depending on the initial grooving diameter required in the application.

Follow these easy steps, and you should be well on your way.

Thank you to Taegutec for providing these machining tips.

For Taegutec Inserts pricing online Google Keyword: Taegutec Carbide Inserts

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Selecting Insert Width for Grooving





Video of Grooving Operation


Here are some quick tips for selecting the best insert width for your grooving applications.

1. Insert width strongly affects strength

2. For most efficient machining, select the widest possible insert.

3. Chipbreaking range depends on the insert width.

4. A narrower width means better chipbreaking at lower feed rates

5. Wider inserts and stronger blades require higher forces adn higher feeds rates to achieve a frontal clearance angle.

Use these few basis tips to give yourself the best chance at success in your machining operation.

Thank you to Taegutec for providing these machining tips.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

THREADING: TAPPING TITANIUM:


Titanium and titanium alloys are most often found in aerospace applications due to its lightweight and high strength.

However, other industries are discovering the benefits of titanium as well. One of the more common alloys is Ti 6AL-4V. It is generally machined at a hardness ranging from approx. 28 to 37 Rc.

One the characteristics that makes titanium difficult to tap is its tremendous elastic memory. When tapping, the material closes tightly around the cutting tool, generating friction and heat, resulting in increased wear of the cutting edges. This material also easily work hardens.

To successfully tap titanium, a tap specifically designed with additional clearance to overcome the extreme elastic memory of the material is recommended.

Tap clearances would include extra back taper of the threads from the front to the back of the thread section, full radial clearance in the threads across the tap lands, and additional relief in the tap chamfer area.

All of these features are used to reduce friction and heat. In some cases, larger H limits might be required to overcome the shrinkage.

Premium grade materials are also used for heat and wear resistance. Obviously we offer these in our standard product lines.

Lubrication and proper pre-tapped hole size are vital to success. A compatible tapping fluid should be used that provides plenty of lubrication to reduce friction.

The drill should be selected to produce the largest hole size that is allowed by the thread class callout (2B or 3B).

Due to the additional clearances required on these tools, positive feeding of the tap is highly recommended.

Machining Titanium Tips

Inserts for Machining Titanium

Friday, January 16, 2009

Machining Aluminum


V8 Engine Block Machining From Solid Aluminum

Aluminum is Inexpensive, Lightweight and is Formable at Cold Temperatures

Aluminum is one of the most common materials used in manufacturing strong, lightweight parts. PMF manufactures parts made purely of Aluminum alloys as well as parts made from two or more materials such as Stainless Steel and Aluminum.

Common Forms of Aluminum (in various tempers)
6000's, 5000's, 1000's, 2000's, 3000's, 7000's

Benefits of Aluminum
  • Inexpensive
  • Lightweight
  • Formable at cold temperatures
Considerations of Aluminum
  • Softness can lead to tearing
  • Low tensile strength (approx. 1/3 that of steel)

Applications of Aluminum

  • Military munitions
  • Aerospace
  • Microelectronics
  • Automobile parts
  • Many others

Looking for inserts for machining aluminum? Find them at pgsTools.com. Your choice

PCD Inserts for Aluminum

Carbide Inserts for Aluminum

Monday, January 12, 2009

What is Induction Hardening

Definition: A widely used process for the surface hardening of steel. The components are heated by means of an alternating magnetic field to a temperature within or above the transformation range followed by immediate quenching. The core of the component remains unaffected by the treatment and its physical properties are those of the bar from which it was machined, whilst the hardness of the case can be within the range 37/58 Rc. Carbon and alloy steels with a carbon content in the range 0.40/0.45% are most suitable for this process.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

What to do about Poor Thread Quality

Often taps get the blame for poor thread quality or rejected threads and it is natural to look to the tap itself as the culprit. Actually, the tap is often the victim of a badly drilled hole. You can't produce a great thread out of a bad hole! Following are some issues and possible resolutions.

1. A dull drill will create a very rough torn hole. Expect poor or incomplete threads.

2. A reground drill must be perfectly concentric. The cutting lips must be of equal length and be ground to the same angles. Failure to create a concentric point will cause the drill to cut on one side more than the other and a crooked, bent hole will result making an attempt to tap that hole very difficult. This can also produce an oval egg shaped hole.

3. Castings sometimes have a tapered hole so the part will release easily. Threading requires straight walls and tapered walls are impossible to thread correctly.

4. Undersized holes are difficult or impossible to thread.

5. Holes that have had the surface work hardened by too high a temperature in the drilling process can become too hard to thread effectively.

6. Materials that shrink or close-in after drilling are undersized for tapping.

7. Holes too near welding or flame cut areas can become hardened and difficult to thread.
Bottom line, consider good hole quality as essential in producing quality holes and if you are having difficulty, dont forget to investigate the drilling process in addition to the tap.

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Selecting Thread Mill Diameters



Tips for Selecting Thread Mill Diameters

When producing internal threads, selecting the right thread mill diameter insures it will operate efficiently.

Thread mills are usually offered in several cutting diameters for a given threads per inch. Smaller diameters are used for small thread sizes, such as 3/8-16 NC.

A larger tool diameter could be used for producing a 3/4-16 NF. However, the smaller thread mill could be used to produce the larger 3/4-16 as well.

Generally, for coarser pitches (coarser than 14 TPI), selecting a cutting diameter no larger than 70% of the nominal thread size to be produced is recommended.

For finer pitches, the thread mill can be as large as 75% of the nominal diameter. Although the tool has radial clearances similar to end mills, if the tool diameter is too close to the thread diameter, the tool may rub, producing more heat that could result in excessive wear.

This rubbing may also distort the thread form affecting the thread angle.

The question is, should the largest thread mill that will fit the hole be used? The answer is, not necessarily!

For the greatest efficiency, smaller mills will remove more cubic inch of metal than a larger one, resulting in greater productivity.

There will be more clearance for the tool and more space for coolant and chips.

However, to optimize the tool, it will be rotating much faster, which may exceed the capability of the machine.

Also, the thread length on the tool may be too short for the thread depth required.

On the other hand, the larger diameter thread mill will minimize deflection, particularly on coarse thread series, but is more prone to rubbing and chip congestion.