Ceratizit to showcase aerospace and medical part machining

For shops producing aerospace or medical components, Ceratizit will bring some of its most innovative tooling and machining solutions to Eastec specifically developed for optimizing the production of parts for those industries.

In booth 5474, the company will showcase the ToolScope and KOMtronic U-axis systems along with the Ceratizit line of indexable milling tools and range of KLENK solid-carbide drills.

To ensure aerospace and medical part processing security, the Ceratizit ToolScope monitoring and control system consists of a suite of specialized modules – process control, machine protection and digitization and documentation – aimed at measuring and optimizing particular aspects of machining operations. In typical applications, ToolScope can often increase process security by as much as 25%, reduce cycle times up to 15% and, with wear monitoring, optimize tool life and provide additional tool reserve usage up to 30%.

Ceratizit’s freely programmable KOMtronic U-axis system makes any contour and turning operation possible on non-rotationally symmetrical parts. When combined with custom-made front tools and the optimum selection of inserts, the system successfully performs contours in bores as well as external machining operations. This capability allows shops to reduce production time, improve surface quality and achieve greater accuracy of form. Additionally, the system reduces the amount of required tools and eliminates the need for clamping devices for finish machining on turning machines.

For part milling performance and flexibility, Ceratizit’s line of indexable milling cutters encompasses solutions for optimizing and improving all milling operations, whether face milling, shoulder milling or high-feed milling. Ceratizit will spotlight its MaxiMill 491 and MaxiMill 273 indexable mills. The new MaxiMill 491 has eight usable cutting edges per its newly expanded 9-mm insert size, a precise 90°profile and a durable nickel-coated tool body. The cutter is extremely well suited for all shoulder and full-slot milling applications.

With 16 useable, axially adjustable cutting edges, the MaxiMill 273 Shell Face Milling Cutter boosts feed rates and guarantees exceptional surface finishes. It combines all the advantages of positive and negative inserts in one cutter that ensures stability and cost-effectiveness while reducing vibration for superior surface finishes. Inserts for both MaxiMill models incorporate Ceratizit’s state-of-the-art Dragonskin coating technology for efficient wear protection and added strength.

The Ceratizit KLENK product line targets the aerospace industry and encompasses advanced rotating tools for drilling. Many of these products are custom-made for customers and used in machining carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP), titanium, aluminum and steel components. The tools are well-suited for manual, semi-automatic and automatic drilling operations. With the right carbides, special cutting geometries and wear-resistant coatings, KLENK can counter the different wear mechanisms in challenging material combinations and drastically extend the service life of a tool.

As a special feature, Ceratizit will have a custom-made FRACE bike on display at the show. The FRACE mountain bike is made from a 70 kilogram block of 7075 aluminum and milled exclusively with Ceratizit tools. Known for its strength-to-weight ratio, 7075 aluminum is prevalent in the aerospace industry. Having the FRACE bike on hand allows Eastec guests to examine Ceratizit’s precision manufacturing capability and ask questions directly related to their work with similar materials.

Rate of change of position of the tool as a whole, relative to the workpiece while cutting.

Machining with several cutters mounted on a single arbor, generally for simultaneous cutting.

Machining operation in which metal or other material is removed by applying power to a rotating cutter. In vertical milling, the cutting tool is mounted vertically on the spindle. In horizontal milling, the cutting tool is mounted horizontally, either directly on the spindle or on an arbor. Horizontal milling is further broken down into conventional milling, where the cutter rotates opposite the direction of feed, or “up” into the workpiece; and climb milling, where the cutter rotates in the direction of feed, or “down” into the workpiece. Milling operations include plane or surface milling, endmilling, facemilling, angle milling, form milling and profiling.

Loosely, any milling tool. Horizontal cutters take the form of plain milling cutters, plain spiral-tooth cutters, helical cutters, side-milling cutters, staggered-tooth side-milling cutters, facemilling cutters, angular cutters, double-angle cutters, convex and concave form-milling cutters, straddle-sprocket cutters, spur-gear cutters, corner-rounding cutters and slitting saws. Vertical cutters use shank-mounted cutting tools, including endmills, T-slot cutters, Woodruff keyseat cutters and dovetail cutters; these may also be used on horizontal mills. See milling.

Method of monitoring a process. Relates to electronic hardware and instrumentation used in automated process control. See in-process gaging, inspection; SPC, statistical process control.

Workpiece is held in a chuck, mounted on a face plate or secured between centers and rotated while a cutting tool, normally a single-point tool, is fed into it along its periphery or across its end or face. Takes the form of straight turning (cutting along the periphery of the workpiece); taper turning (creating a taper); step turning (turning different-size diameters on the same work); chamfering (beveling an edge or shoulder); facing (cutting on an end); turning threads (usually external but can be internal); roughing (high-volume metal removal); and finishing (final light cuts). Performed on lathes, turning centers, chucking machines, automatic screw machines and similar machines.