Tuesday, August 6th, 2024

How Do You Optimize Insert Use for Roughing vs. Finishing

Indexable milling inserts play a crucial role in automation in machining by improving efficiency, precision, and consistency in the manufacturing process. These inserts are replaceable cutting tips that are mounted VNMG Insert on the end of a cutting tool, such as a milling cutter, and are designed to be easily rotated or replaced when they become worn or damaged. This ability to replace the inserts rather than the entire tool results in significant time and cost savings for manufacturers.

One of the key ways in which indexable milling inserts contribute to automation in machining is through their consistency and repeatability. These inserts are manufactured to very high tolerances, ensuring that each insert is identical in size and shape. This uniformity means that once a tool is set up and calibrated, it can be used to produce numerous identical parts without the need for manual adjustments or recalibration. This level of consistency is essential for automated machining processes, as it ensures that each part produced is of the same high quality.

Furthermore, the use of indexable milling deep hole drilling inserts inserts allows for high-speed machining, which is essential for automation. These inserts are designed to withstand high cutting speeds and feed rates, resulting in increased productivity and shorter cycle times. This is particularly important in automated manufacturing environments, where the goal is to produce as many parts as possible in the shortest amount of time.

Another significant contribution of indexable milling inserts to automation in machining is their versatility. These inserts come in a wide range of shapes, sizes, and materials, allowing manufacturers to select the most suitable insert for a particular machining operation. This flexibility is essential for automation, as it allows manufacturers to use the same tool for a variety of cutting tasks without the need for frequent tool changes.

Additionally, indexable milling inserts are designed to be easily indexed or replaced, further enhancing the automation process. When an insert becomes worn or damaged, it can be quickly rotated to expose a fresh cutting edge or replaced with a new insert, reducing downtime and increasing machine utilization. This feature is particularly beneficial in automated manufacturing environments, where any interruption to the machining process can have a significant impact on production efficiency.

In conclusion, indexable milling inserts make a significant contribution to automation in machining by enhancing efficiency, precision, and consistency in the manufacturing process. Their uniformity, high-speed capabilities, versatility, and ease of replacement make them essential tools for automated machining operations, allowing manufacturers to produce high-quality parts quickly and reliably.


The Cemented Carbide Blog: threading Insert
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Thursday, July 25th, 2024

What are the environmental benefits of using carbide grooving inserts in manufacturing

Deep hole drilling inserts are an essential tool for machining deep holes in various materials. Despite their effectiveness, vibration issues may often arise with deep hole drilling inserts that can adversely impact the efficiency and quality of machining operations. Vibration issues can lead to poor surface finish, tool breakage, and even damage to machinery. Thus, it is vital to troubleshoot and address vibration issues to ensure optimal performance from deep hole drilling inserts. Here are some tips to help you troubleshoot vibration issues with deep hole drilling inserts.

Check Cemented Carbide Inserts for Tool Wear: One of the common causes of vibration issues is tool wear in deep hole drilling inserts. Over time, cutting edges may become dull, resulting in excessive force, which causes vibrations. Inspect the cutting edges of the insert for signs of wear and replace or re-sharpen them if necessary. This approach will not only fix vibration issues but also extend the tool's lifespan.

Make Sure the Drill is Straight: Another cause of vibration can be an improperly aligned drill. If the drill is not straight, it can cause the drill bit to vibrate excessively, leading to rough holes and poor surface finishes. Check the drill's alignment and ensure that it is straight before drilling to prevent vibration issues.

Reduce Cutting Speeds and Feed Rates: Cutting too fast can generate excess heat and cause vibrations. Therefore, reducing cutting speed and feed rate is an effective method for mitigating vibration issues in deep hole drilling inserts. Run the machine at a slower speed and decrease the feed rate to see if the vibration disappears. Once the issue is identified, increase the speed and feed rate gradually until you reach optimal performance.

Reduce the Amount of Material Being Removed: Sometimes, removing too much material at once can cause vibration issues in deep hole drilling inserts. This problem can be addressed by reducing the amount of material being removed during each pass. Breaking down the hole drilling into smaller steps can reduce the stress and strain on the tool, reducing vibration issues.

Proper Lubrication: One of the most common causes of vibration issues is inadequate lubrication. Insufficient lubrication can cause the tool's friction to increase, leading to heat buildup and vibration. Ensure that the drill is adequately lubricated before operation to avoid this issue. Using proper coolant will not only prolong the tool's life but will also improve performance by minimizing vibration.

In conclusion, vibration issues can cause significant problems when machining with deep hole drilling inserts.slot milling cutters However, with the above tips, you can troubleshoot and resolve most problems. Remember to maintain your deep hole drilling inserts correctly and follow the manufacturer's recommended best practices to avoid future vibration problems.


The Cemented Carbide Blog: Cutting Carbide Inserts
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Friday, May 10th, 2024

How does a carbide grooving insert improve the surface finish of grooves

Threading inserts are an important way to protect fastener threads from damage, reducing the risk of costly repairs or replacements. Threading inserts are designed to allow for easy installation and removal of threads without damaging them. The inserts are made from SNMG Insert ultra-durable materials, such as stainless steel or brass, which provide superior wear resistance. Additionally, the inserts feature a tighter thread configuration than conventional threads, resulting in a more secure and reliable connection.

The inserts provide a number of benefits that reduce the risk of thread damage. Firstly, the inserts create a barrier that prevents dirt and abrasive particles from entering the threads, thus protecting them from becoming damaged. Secondly, the inserts provide superior grip, helping to ensure a secure fit that won't loosen or become damaged over time. Finally, the inserts can also be re-used multiple times, allowing for an economical and efficient threading solution.

Overall, threading inserts offer numerous advantages that help to reduce the risk of thread damage. They provide superior wear Cemented Carbide Inserts resistance, create a barrier to protect threads from dirt and abrasive particles, and provide superior grip to ensure a secure fit. Additionally, they can be used multiple times, resulting in a cost-effective threading solution. Ultimately, threading inserts are an essential tool for preventing thread damage and ensuring the optimal performance of fasteners.


The Cemented Carbide Blog: deep hole drilling
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Tuesday, January 16th, 2024

Seco Tools' New Insert Series is Capable of Milling Tough Materials

Considering the "manufacturability" of a new product before the design is finalized can help avoid costly alterations. This requires communication and cooperation between the product designers and their manufacturing counterparts.

With more than 4,500 different products, Pelco (Clovis, California), a video security systems manufacturer, offers flexibility in addressing a range of surveillance requirements. Its products are used in more than 1 million locations globally, in applications such as corporate enterprises, entertainment venues, museums and property management.

When developing a new stainless steel product, the company contacted cutting tool supplier Seco-Carboloy (Detroit, Michigan) to join its simultaneous product/process engineering team.

In response to the need for increased surveillance around ships, defense installations, power plants and other locations within the marine environment, the company began offering an explosion-proof pan-and-tilt video security system. However, introducing the corrosion-resistant product involved more than switching from aluminum to stainless steel material; it required a blank-sheet approach to product and process development.

"Our product engineers had a conceptual idea of how to introduce the stainless steel product," explains Lolo Garza, machine shop manager at Pelco. "For the power module of the unit, the design engineers envisioned a weldment comprised of three individually machined pieces."

"After analyzing the weldment drawings and existing data while the product was still in the design phase," says Daryl Serna, Seco-Carboloy senior technical specialist, "we concluded that machining the component from one large stainless steel billet would be more cost-efficient. We accurately projected the machining data based on the experience Seco-Carboloy had with metal removal rates of the TP3000 inserts, which eliminated the need to make a prototype to validate the decision to machine from the large billet."

"Working from a 316L alloy billet about 6 inches to 7 inches in diameter, we bore out the billet, machining it down to an 1/8-inch wall (basically making a tube out of it)," continues Mr. Garza. "The operations include drilling, boring, OD rough turning, finish turning, trepanning, grooving and a large amount of precision threading, and each thread has to be a G3 class fit."

Seco-Carboloy suggested its SD indexable drills with T300D coated inserts, the toughest of its universal grades, to rapidly plunge the initial hole on the ID to open up the part for heavy stock removal with a boring bar. For the roughing operation, which hogs out a large amount of stainless material, Mr. Serna recommended boring bars with the TP3000 grade, featuring a substrate and wear-resistant multi-layered coating. TP400 was also used for OD TCMT Insert finishing.

Pelco now realizes that it made the appropriate processing decision. Machining the weldment caused the company to incur a considerable amount of extra time on the three setups. The total cycle time per module was 12 minutes. However, drilling and rough-boring the entire inside of the billet required 3 minutes.

The rough boring operation using the TP3000 with an M5 chipbreaker is performed at a speed of 550 sfpm, with a feed rate of 0.012 ipr and a 0.125-inch depth of cut. For the finishing operation, the TP400, with a 0.015-inch depth of cut and a cutting speed of 650 sfpm, is used. A feed rate of 0.008 ipr is achieved when using the MF3 chipbreaker, and 0.004 ipr is achieved with an F1 chipbreaker. Tool life ranges from 20 to 30 minutes per insert.

Because the company's explosion-proof surveillance systems carry UL and CE certification, specifications Carbide Inserts and tolerances are necessary to maintain the licenses. On a regular basis, Pelco must calibrate and document its processes, including the tools that are used. In one instance, the company's engineers produced a bearing assembly component that involved press fitting two dynamic seal O-ring bearings onto the part. The design engineers explored the possibility of pressing the part and sending it to a CNC grinding facility to grind the ID to hold the tolerance, particularly the 16 finish that was required for the dynamic seal portion. With assistance from Seco-Carboloy, the group found a processing solution that would keep the work in-house. A pilot run was carried out using a Seco-Carboloy insert, running with a 0.0002-inch tolerance from start to finish. This produced a surface finish of 8.8 and required no outside grinding.

For Pelco, working with Seco-Carboloy is more than just acquiring proper tooling for a particular operation. "It's about selecting a single-source committed carbide manufacturer and partnering for continuous improvement," says Mr. Garza.


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