LMT Easytec parting and grooving range of tools

Citation

(2009), "LMT Easytec parting and grooving range of tools", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 81 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2009.12781ead.015

LMT Easytec parting and grooving range of tools

Article Type: Equipment and software From: Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology: An International Journal, Volume 81, Issue 5

Easytec is a totally new range of parting, internal and external grooving, face machining and groove turning tools that can be applied to a wide range of materials 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 grades (Figure 2).

Developed by LMT's advanced coating and insert division LMT Boehlerit, and now available through LMT (UK) of Coventry, customer trials in part-off tooling, for instance, have already shown significant savings especially on difficult to machine materials. A prime example is the parting-off of 20 mm diameter Inconel 718 bar run at the same speed as the incumbent suppliers tool at 35 m/min with a feed rate progressively increasing from 0.02 to 0.05 mm/rev. The LMT Easytec tool produced 475 part against 275 previously.

Figure 2 Easytec parting and grooving range of tools

On a further 12.7 mm diameter component made from 304 A 151 steel again run at the original settings of 70 m/min, 0.07 mm/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 ultra-thin 1.4 mm width for use on materials up to 32 mm diameter, 2 mm for up to 40 mm and 3 mm for up to 100 mm bar. One of the major advantages of the insert and holder design is that centre height positioning is always guaranteed which ensures the full 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, due to the three micron depth of the Ti AIN-PVD coating, that is ideal 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 built-up edge on the insert.

Within the grooving and groove turning inserts in the range a particular focus on the design of 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 230 m/min against 220 m/min for the competitor inserts, 0.13 mm/rev feed against 0.12 mm/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 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.

Details available from: LMT (UK) Limited, Tel.: +44 (0) 24 7636 9770; Fax: +44 (0) 24 7636 9771; Web site: www.LMT-tools.com