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.

VDMA, the German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association, will hold a Clamping Technology Forum at Metav 2018. Hainbuch and Römheld announced that they will unveil their latest developments in clamping at the International Exhibition for Metalworking Technologies.

Germany Schunk, supplier of clamping technology and gripping systems, has introduced the SRM rotary unit.

Conventional chucks or face plates reach their limits in cutting applications where thin walled parts are concerned. the parts are deformed in the clamping process, shaping and geometric tolerances are difficult to adhere to and the interference contours of the clamping devices restrict the accessibility. However, there are alternatives.

Israel – With the launch of several products, Iscar has expanded its range of hole cutting tools. The Sumocham drilling heads, for instance, are said to slash machining cycle times, requiring only half the number of tools for a given drilling operation.

The Micro Lube minimal quantity lubrication system from Advanced Carbide Tooling Ltd uses a plant-based oil and offers both reduced machining costs and improved processing results, according to its supplier.

Machine tool crashes can destroy the tool and damage the machine as well as, in certain circumstances, expensive workpieces. German researchers are using radar to recognise imminent collisions and eliminate them.

Germany – Using a Stratasys Fortus 3D Production System, France-based Volvo Trucks has reduced turnaround times of certain assembly line manufacturing tools from 36 days to two days while reducing tooling costs.

At Metav, Hartmetall-Werkzeugfabrik Paul Horn will present numerous tool products, among them Systems 209 and 2016. The grooving systems are designed for the internal machining of bores with diameters ≥ 16 mm (0.6299") (System 209) and ≥ 20 mm (0.7874") (System 216).

A patent-pending system that creates “continuous melt transfer connections” is expected to open a number of new areas within the mould for designers. These movable channels have reportedly already provided distinct advantages in large thin-wall parts.