Modular Solid Tools With Replaceable Front Ends

Besides, classic solid tungsten carbide end mills and insert based small end mills; there is additional, highly interesting group of carbide milling cutters placed into the same field of applications. These systems essentially provide the same type of performance as classic solid carbide end mills yet they combine it with extra flexibility and modularity. It’s the replaceable solid carbide head end milling systems. Pioneered in the late 1980s, the latest generation of these tools incorporates the best features of classic solid end mills such as precision, strength and very advanced cutting edge designs and coatings with the possibility to add extra stability through steel shanks in various lengths. Tools of this kind can be configured in a near unlimited fashion from ultra stable short clamping to the very long, tapered setups designed to reach deep cavities or constrained component areas where standard solid carbide cutters will not be able to reach into. These systems allow for cutting head exchanges in the machine tool, eliminating the time needed for tool re-measuring and re-setting. Modular head systems overlap many of the solid carbide solutions outlined in this article in the diameter range of 8mm to approximately 16 mm in diameter and they provide a viable and flexible hybrid complement to traditional solid carbide end mills.

 

Summary

With all the solid carbide cutter and hybrid modular solutions available today, it is important to choose the correct strategic approach to both selection and application of the tools. In line with the overall machining goal, be it performance, maximized component output or lowest possible tool cost per component, correct tool selection and application is the key to profitable machining with quality solid carbide end milling systems.