Cutting Tools at IMTS 2022 Geared Toward Mold Manufacturing

Metric-Diamond-Coated End Mills for Graphite Electrode Machining

Photo Credit: Crystallume

Crystallume introduces a new line of high-precision, metric-diamond- coated end mills for machining graphite electrodes that meet mold manufacturing requirements. The end mills will be featured at IMTS 2022 in booth #432374.

According to the company, the cutting tools are coated with a proprietary Lightning CVD Diamond coating to ensure a long tool life. 

Ball-End Tool Contours, Chamfers and Finishes in One Pass for Most Materials

Photo Credit: IMCO Carbide Tool

IMCO Carbide Tool launches the Pow•R•Arc ball-end cutter, the newest of IMCO’s high-performance cutting tools. The company says its product is all about speed; the Pow•R•Arc is designed for contouring and chamfering at the fastest possible speed and feed rates in most materials, even cutting smoothly in workpieces with dissimilar materials, with no digs or handwork needed. Available with six or eight flutes, it is said to feature advanced geometries and a next-generation coating for faster feed rates, greater lubricity, reliable chip ejection and what is reported to be double the tool life over competitors’ tools tested.

When asked the single most important benefit of this technology for a mold builder, IMCO points to the large reduction in cycle time that it would take to machine one’s mold, the result of an end mill that is said can be run and increase feed rates up to 5x those of a four-flute tool.

Barrel-Shaped Tools Slash Multiaxis Milling Time Requirements

Photo Credit: Iscar USA

Time is the single greatest commodity consumed when finish and semi-finish machining of complex surfaces such as molds, according to Iscar USA. This can be compounded by the difficult-to-machine materials often associated with this type of work. To aid in reducing time required, the company introduces a new family of barrel-shaped tools, the Neo Barrel, at IMTS 2022, for efficient multiaxis milling.

Iscar says the concept takes a portion of a large circle and applies this arc segment as a cutting-edge profile. The cutter profile is said to enable for greater stepovers without increasing the cusp height. High-quality surface finishes can be achieved on the machine with a reduced number of passes, Iscar notes, often eliminating the need for time consuming bench work while maintaining tool life and increasing productivity.

Rough and Mirror-Finish Face Milling Performed with Same Cutter

Global cutting tool company YG-1 Tool Co. announces that it is giving face milling a whole new dimension with the FM10 PNMU indexable inserts and cutter. This latest innovation from YG-1 provides rough face milling with high removal rates and optimized surface finishes with the same insert and cutter, an ability that is not typically available for most mold builders or general metalworkers but is considered the single most important benefit of the product for these end users, particularly as it reduces cycle time and enables control over insert inventory.

Photo Credit: YG-1 Tool Co.

Coolant Retrofit Systems, Collets, Precision Probing Expand Toolholding Offerings

Photo Credit: Rego-Fix

Rego-Fix showcases innovations at IMTS 2022 that extend the company’s Swiss precision beyond toolholding. Featured technologies at booth #431822 include the 3D-EdgeMaster measuring device and MasterBar test arbors — both new product entries for setup and test measurement. Other highlights include expansions to the company’s existing lines of internal coolant retrofit systems with additional flexibility for high-speed spindles and for turning centers, as well as other collet offerings.