Product category:
Milling cutters
News Release from: ITC Tooling | Subject: Milling cutters at Crownfield Engineering
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 20 February 2008
Metal cutting tools life, surface
finish, are good
In spite the complex machining and demanding materials, a subcontractor said that the tool life offered by its main tooling supplier is good, and that surface finish is impressive.
For a number of years, the 24-employee, family-owned subcontractor, Crownfield Engineering, has relied on a large range of milling cutters supplied by ITC Tooling These include: 2001 and 2041 Series two-flute carbide cutters for high metal removal rates; 2052 Series two-flute ballnose end mills specifically for machining aluminium; and 3011/3021 Series three-flute HSS high performance end mills
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 6 Feb 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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Micro-grained ball nose cutter mills hard steels
Manufactured from ultra wear resistant micro grain carbide, a two flute ball nosed, straight shank cutter is designed to machine steels hardened to 65 Rockwell C.
"ITC ensure that our essential needs are covered and that stock is replenished on a Kanban-type system," explained the company's managing director, David Bird.
He continued: "The ITC representative calls by on a regular basis and liaises directly with the machine operators to make sure everything is in hand".
"Placing the responsibility on ITC means there is one thing less for us to worry about in what is a very busy machine shop.
Further reading
Carbide cutters machine aluminium at high speeds
Specifically designed for machining aluminium, solid carbide straight shank cutters have the versatility to machine a host of materials ranging from plastic to brass and copper.
Coated carbide roughers last longer on hard steels
Carbide roughing cutters, coated with AlTiN to reduce friction and improve lubrication, provide increased tool life while machining hardened steels at speeds ranging up to 200m/min.
Mill aluminium, brass, at high speeds and feeds
Two flute solid carbide cutter has a 50 degree right hand helix, specifically designed for machining aluminium at extremely high speeds and feeds as well as plastics and brass.
Our customers are increasingly demanding a 'total' service from us, so we don't see why things should be any different for our suppliers".
Materials processed at Crownfield range from aluminium and steel through to titanium and the more 'exotic' alloys such as aluminium-bronze for certain defence jobs.
Many of the parts feature complex geometry that require the services of one of the various multi-axis CNC Matsuura machining centres on site at the 10,000 ft2 facility.
However, Crownfield realises that there is more to successful machining than the machine tool alone.
"Having a machine tool with the capability to offer high speeds and feeds that are compromised by inappropriate or inadequate tooling is not far short of a crime," said Bird.
"Or, put another way, if you spend GBP 300,000 on a machining centre and it's labouring because of incorrect tool selection, then it's a pretty sorry state of affairs.
It's imperative we achieve maximum productivity from our investments and that is one of the reasons why we continue to use ITC.
The cutters they supply never fail to respond to our demands".
* Tool lives - in spite of the complex machining and demanding materials, Bird said that the tool life offered by ITC is good, and that surface finish is impressive.
Many of the parts machined by the company have faces to accept seals, gaskets or O-rings where it is vital to attain a superior finish.
"Crownfield's unique selling point is that we never compromise on quality," said Bird.
"Quality has to be 100%, which is why we invest in high quality machine tools and high quality cutting tools".
* About Crownfield Engineering - with the broad experience, capacity and resources offered by Crownfield, the ISO9002-accredited company handles all types of work from prototype and pre-production engineering through to complete production schedules (from urgent response to long term collaborative planning), which also involves moving beyond machined components into the supply of complete assemblies.
Located near High Wycombe, UK, Crownfield Engineering was established in 1966 as a precision subcontract machinist.
Today, the company specialises in what it describes as 'high end' machining that few other subcontractors will attempt.
Industries served include aerospace, defence, instrumentation and medical.
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