Apply best cutting tool practice and save millions

Cemented carbide insert manufacturer claims that the UK metal cutting industry could save GBP 30 million annually by simply applying best combination of cutting tools, inserts and processes.

The world leading cemented carbide insert manufacturer claims that the UK metal cutting industry could save GBP 30,000,000 annually by the simple application of the best combination of cutting tools, inserts and machining processes.

At MACH, Sandvik Coromant presented a forum to enable visitors to discuss and examine how they can claim a share of this massive potential saving that, in today's 'cost down' manufacturing environment, could mean the difference between keeping major manufacturing projects within the UK or losing them overseas.

"Sandvik Coromant has always maintained a major focus on productivity but at MACH we fine tuned our customer focus by inviting visitors to talk pounds and pence as well as feeds and speeds," claimed UK managing director Dave Purchase.

"Supported by a range of new product introductions - including a new generation of inserts - and industry sector showcases, we presented a most comprehensive case for improving our customers' productivity.

2006 saw the first releases in a major new insert generation by Sandvik Coromant and at MACH there were also a number of products on show for the first time in the UK.

* New insert generation - earlier in 2006, Sandvik Coromant introduced its GC4225 grade which will address the requirement to achieve best results in the diverse ISO P25 area using a single insert grade.

This has always been a challenge but with GC4225, Sandvik Coromant has developed an improved, versatile grade capable of adapting to variations in work piece material.

Also featured at MACH were the recently introduced GC1030 and GC4240 grades being the first in a new generation of steel milling grades purpose designed for modern machining conditions where predictability and security are vital.

GC1030 is the first choice when machining difficult materials or when operating in unstable conditions where long overhangs and vibration problems may prevail.

Its unique PVD coating offers excellent wear resistance with increased productivity and cost efficiency.

The grade is optimized for end milling, small cutter diameters and can perform equally well in wet or dry, machining environments.

GC4240 is a grade with a completely new substrate and CVD coating offering higher security for trouble free machining and high performance in the toughest steel milling operations.

* Industry focus - industries under the 'spotlight' on the Coromant stand were aerospace, automotive, small part machining and the wider mechanical engineering sector.

* Aerospace - for aerospace, Sandvik Coromant illustrated how, by applying the latest tooling technology and application know-how, a wide range of machining techniques on exotic and difficult to machine work piece materials can be successfully undertaken.

Products highlighted were the new CoroCut engineered inserts for grooving, Xcel for semi-rough turning into shoulders, the Jetbreak High Pressure Coolant System and the new super alloy insert grade GC1105.

* Automotive - for the automotive sector, Sandvik Coromant highlighted applications and tooling solutions for improved total production economy in machining cam and crankshafts, engine blocks and heads, transmission parts and other automotive components.

A mix of engineered and standard tool solutions were highlighted covering the machining of aluminium and cast iron castings, bi-metal machining, cylinder boring and turning case hardened transmission components.

* Small part machining - in the small part machining area, in line with the growing demand for small precision-turned components, Sandvik Coromant featured tools it has developed to increase machine performance.

These include CoroTurn XS and the Delta C-drill, focusing on precision machined, tiny components while internal high precision grooves in holes down to 10mm diameter are now possible by the new CoroCut MB (minibar).

* Mechanical engineering - finally, for those operating in the wider field of mechanical engineering, the focus was on optimising metal cutting processes with productivity always a major focus.

Products featured are a result of Sandvik Coromant's ongoing research and development programme with new product introductions and a strong customer focus.

In a typical year, Sandvik Coromant commits an annual research and development budget equivalent to 6% of its global sales.

Therefore, the 25,000 products in the Coromant range will be supplemented by over 2000 new additions in 2006.

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