They say only a poor workman blames his tools, but selecting the proper ones isn’t always that easy. Cutting tool suppler Seco Tools (UK) Ltd offers a few tips for die and mould shops.

The medium-sized Knarr Group, located in Helmbrechts, Germany, is a tool and mould-maker that manufactures and supplies all standard parts through to complete mould bases according to customer requirements. In addition to the company’s highly motivated employees, its modern machine tools and its CAM system provide the basis for the company’s steadily growing business success.

France – The debate between graphite and copper as the best EDM electrode material to use has been long-standing. Many argue that graphite is the preferred material while others stand firm with their preference for copper. Poco Graphite completed a test to find out.

Germany – A look at the misinformation that prevents mouldmakers from taking advantage of 5-axis machining strategies to shorten total machining times. By Michael Cope, Senior Applications Engineer from Hurco

Foremost Specialist Products is a subcontract manufacturer of precision engineered components based in Derby, UK. To take on the “complex and awkward parts that no else wants to tackle”, the company has invested in a Sodick ALC600G CNC wire-erosion machine from Sodi-Tech EDM. Among the jobs being successfully accommodated by the machine are stainless steel tubular stem guides for power generator turbines.

The VC1650 5-axis machining centre from Germany-based machine tool builder Spinner is said to be able to machine complex components weighing up to two tonnes within an 820-mm cube.

USA – With its affordable Accute-X “Great Economy” (GE) wire EDM machines, US-based Absolute Machine Tools offers a line of machines reportedly combining high cutting speed and accuracy.

In the past, blow-moulding companies have largely avoided prototyping due to the high cost and long lead times of the process. Stratasys explains the steps needed to use its pair of technologies to eliminate these concerns.

UK – Lapp Blaster, a surface preparation and finishing cabinet from Erodex, has been designed to remove the recast layer created by the EDM process, and to effectively shot-peen the annealed heat-affected zone.

Compared to other materials, aluminium is rather simple to machine. At least it seems much more effortless than steel, for example. Nevertheless, there are several mistakes that can be made when machining this material, including the choice of the wrong tool, that impact productivity.