LMT unveils Easytec range of tools

LMT (UK) has introduced the Easytec range of parting, internal- and external-grooving, face-machining and groove-turning tools that can be applied to a variety of materials.

These range from cast iron, alloy and standard steels to aluminium and brass.

Also within the range of coated inserts are high-performance ceramic, cermet and polycrystalline-diamond (PCD) grades.

Developed by LMT Boehlerit, LMT's advanced coating and insert division, and now available through LMT (UK) of Coventry, customer trials in part-off tooling, for instance, have already shown savings, especially on difficult-to-machine materials.

A prime example is the parting off of the 20mm-diameter Inconel 718 bar run at the same speed as the incumbent supplier's tool at 35m/min with a feed rate progressively increasing from 0.02mm/rev to 0.05mm/rev.

Previously, the LMT Easytec tool produced 475 parts against 275.

On a further 12.7mm-diameter component made from 304 A 151 steel, again run at the original settings of 70m/min, 0.07mm/rev feed, tool life was increased from between 10 and 15 parts per insert to up to 60 parts.

Part-off blades are available in an ultra-thin 1.4mm width for use on materials up to 32mm in diameter, 2mm for up to 40mm bar and 3mm for up to 100mm bar.

The centre height positioning of the insert and holder design is always guaranteed, which ensures that the effectiveness of the chip breaker is maintained and cutting pressures reduced on the corner of the inserts - a major cause of insert chipping and ultimate failure.

In addition, as a result of the three-micron depth of the Ti AIN-PVD coating, which is suitable for machining alloyed and stainless steels as well as super alloys and cast iron, high security is maintained against plastic deformation and the formation of a built-up edge on the insert.

Within the grooving and groove turning inserts in the range, a particular focus on the design of the chip breaker ensures high performance, which has been demonstrated on a ball bearing roll in 23 HRC - 100 Cr6 steel machined on a Miyano turn-mill centre.

In the trials, the LMT grooving tool was run at 230m/min against 220m/min for the competitor inserts, 0.13mm/rev feed against 0.12mm/rev, resulting in a tool life giving 100 more components per insert and thus extending production to 650 parts.

On a further interrupted cut trial on a P110 low-alloyed-steel tubing run at the same speed and feed rate as a competitor insert, the LMT grooving tool demonstrated increased life based on parts per insert, raised from 354 to 500.

In addition to standard tools, LMT has also developed a specials service that is application specific, providing gang sets of part-off tools for tubed components and special inserts for forming multiple grooves and radii, such as those required in drive belt pulleys.

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