CARBIDE INSERT QUOTATION,INDEXABLE CARBIDE INSERTS,CARBIDE INSERTS

Arno Werkzeuge USA VNMG Insert introduces its SA series of cutting tools and inserts for grooving and parting-off or cutoff operations. The modular grooving system, using a single toolholder, can be transformed into different tool variants by changing the support blade and clamp. Enabling different operations with one tool, this grooving system provides chip removal in all three main cutting directions. The SA range also features precision-ground two- or three-edged cutting inserts in various designs, shapes and types to maximize Carbide Threading Inserts cutting performance, speed and efficiency.

The series comes in three unique systems—monoblock, modular and blade-style—to accommodate the requirements of machining operations in aerospace, plastics and medical industries. The company says the SA series provides a cost-effective solution for radial grooving as well as parting off of diameters ranging to 5.512" (140 mm). The SA monoblock holder is used with a range of double-sided inserts including the Arno SA16, SA17, SA24, SA35 und SA40 in widths of 0.059", 0.079", 0.118", 0.157", 0.197", 0.236", 0.315 " and 0.394" (1.5, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10 mm).  

3-D printing has gained a great deal of traction in the past few years. Its popularity is expected to grow as the techniques become more refined and focused. Unlike some experts warned, though, 3-D printing is not poised to replace CNC machining. Forward-thinking companies combine the properties of both techniques to develop strategies that meet their clients’ needs.

Overview of CNC machining

CNC machining is a subtractive manufacturing process that uses computer-controlled machines to remove material from a workpiece. The process involves three main components: the computer (which controls the machine), the tool (which cuts the material), and the workpiece (the material being shaped).

The computer uses strict instructions to guide the tool as it moves across the workpiece, cutting away material and creating the desired shape.

Overview of 3D Printing

3D printing is an additive manufacturing process that builds three-dimensional objects layer by layer using a computer-controlled printer. The process involves three main components: the computer (which controls the printer), the material (which is usually a thermoplastic or resin), and the printer (which creates the object).

The computer uses precise instructions to guide the printer as it lays down layers of material, gradually building up the object from the bottom up. This process can be used to create complex geometries, including curved and hollow shapes, and can produce objects with a high degree of accuracy and detail.

How Can CNC Machining and 3D Printing be Used Together?

CNC machining and 3D printing can be used together to enhance manufacturing processes and create complex parts with high precision and accuracy. Here are some examples of how these two technologies can be used in conjunction:

• Using 3D printing to create a prototype of a part and then using CNC machining to produce the final part with a higher degree of precision and accuracy.
• Combining 3D printing with CNC machining to create hybrid parts that leverage the strengths of each technology. For example, 3D printing could be used to create a part with a complex shape, and then CNC machining could be used to add finishing details or to create features that require high precision.
• Using 3D printing to create molds that can then be used in CNC machining to produce parts in large quantities.
• In the medical device industry, using 3D printing to create patient-specific implants and devices, and then using CNC machining to refine the final product to meet exact specifications.
• Using CNC machining to produce metal components that can then be used in 3D printing to create hybrid parts with complex geometries.

By using both CNC machining and 3D printing in a complementary way, manufacturers can leverage the strengths of each technology to create high-quality, custom parts that are tailored to specific needs.

Industries that Use CNC Machining on 3D Printed Parts

Now that we know some of the situations when CNC machining and 3d printing can be used together let’s look at some of the industries that utilize both processes.

Medical Device Industry

Marrying CNC machining and 3-D printing is already making a difference in the lives of patients. Manufacturers of medical devices are using aluminum prototyping to design new components, present product improvements and tackle any shortcomings that present themselves in the finished product.

Medical implants and devices can be created specifically to address a patient’s unique needs, reducing wait times for those suffering from life-threatening diseases and illnesses. These breakthroughs not only have the potential to improve the patient’s quality of life, they could even prolong it.

Because 3-D printing is not yet refined enough to provide the durability, precise design and balance that medical device manufacturers need to fully adopt the technology, CNC machining continues to be their preferred method. This hasn’t stopped industry pioneers from exploring other options, though. Using 3-D printing to design a human organ holds significant promise for increasing the longevity and quality of human life. Because this technology relies on biological tissue, its development is somewhat limited in scope however.

Aerospace Development and Design

In most cases, plastic mediums that have been a mainstay in the 3-D printing industry, like composites or those that are hardened, have found only a limited use in the design and development of aerospace components. With 3-D printers that work with aluminum and metal materials entering the market, however, that limitation is likely to change in the coming months.

Metal additive manufacturing — a hybrid of traditional CNC machining and 3-D printing — provides manufacturers in the industry with the project control and flexibility they need. One partnership between the United States Air Force and Lockheed Martin Space Systems centers on the design and development of a satellite that uses advanced extremely high frequencies. Dubbed the AEHF-6, the satellite, which features a 3-D printed aluminum remote interface unit, is expected to launch sometime in 2018.

Automotive Industry

The automotive industry has embraced 3-D printing as a companion technique of CNC machining. Ford, for example, has a 3-D printer that is capable Coated Inserts of printing auto parts in a variety of shapes and sizes. While this is primarily been limited to spoilers for their models that are marked as performance vehicles, the auto maker is moving ahead with other uses.

Hybrid printing is already found throughout the industry. Currently, the research and development are focused on exploring alternative materials. PEEK, a polymer designed of a highly specialized composite, is one such next-gen material that has the potential to replace metal in some applications.

While 3-D printing is a concept that will continue to disrupt the manufacturing industry, it is not likely to fully replace CNC machining anytime in the near future. Instead, these complementary technologies will continue to refine — and redefine — their relationship with each other. The result? Products, materials and innovations that change lives and CNC Inserts facilitate the exploration of boundaries.

Conclusion

while 3D printing has gained popularity and is expected to continue growing, it won’t replace CNC machining. Both technologies can be used simultaneously to create high-quality custom parts that meet specific needs.

The medical device, aerospace, and automotive industries are just a few examples of how these technologies can be combined to create breakthrough products and innovations that change lives and push the boundaries of what is possible. As both technologies continue to refine and redefine their relationship with each other, we can expect to see even more exciting developments in the future.

A reader recently used the “Ask an Expert” feature of our Micromachining Zone to submit the following question:

Question

We are challenged to drill 0.081-inch +/-0.0006 holes in AISI 321 stainless steel. Depth of the through hole is 0.384 inch. What advice can you offer?

Response from John Bradford, micromachining R&D team leader for Makino

I have some general information to share that will help guide you.

Some guidelines regarding coolant:

Use a water-soluble coolant with a minimum concentration of 8%. Increase concentration as the material gets tougher or harder. At 0.080 inch diameter, it may be very tough to find tooling that provides for through-spindle coolant. The smallest we have seen with through-spindle coolant is 0.080 inch for standard twist drill type tooling. I'm sure there are gun drills out there that have the capability at DNMG Insert smaller diameters, but gun drilling is specialized and somewhat slow from a processing standpoint. Overall, for through-spindle coolant, pressure is important—but flow is equally important for drilling since this is the mechanism that keeps the chips moving out of the whole. At some point, due to tool diameter dictating orifice size, pressure is still available but flow is minimal.

Some approaches to center drilling and piloting of holes:

Whenever possible, we try to eliminate spot drilling to avoid the added cycle time and tooling. We have been successful in holding positional tolerance without spot drilling by using tooling with at least 130-degree-included tip angle. 135-degree is the most common tip we use. For deeper holes (over 12:1), we will generate a pilot hole at 0.001" diameter oversize and about 3:1 deep. Then TNMG Insert we follow behind the pilot hole with the deep-hole drill. Other variables sometime come into play, but as long as the tool starts with the tool axis normal to the surface, results are good.