Excellent cutting and extended tool life mean more parts at higher quality

Numerous precision parts in transportation, moldmaking, general engineering, and more require true 90-degree shoulders and floors with superior surface finish. Economic and competitive pressures require manufacturers of all parts to maximize metal removal and tool life. The new VSM490 double-sided shoulder milling platform from WIDIA is a powerful advantage for achieving all this and more.

“Go ahead and get aggressive with feed rates,” says Global Product Manager Juan Seculi. “Not only will you see the depth of cut is much bigger (up to 15mm or 0.590 inches), scallop or stepdown marks are barely noticeable. Poor surface quality means additional operations and higher cycle times. Take the VSM490 performance upgrade and add that double-sided inserts deliver a sizeable cost benefit over single-sided tools and the VSM490 advantages become compelling.”

Designed for low horsepower draw and free machining, VSM490 delivers an effective one-two punch of reduced horsepower at the machine and higher speed and feed rates that get jobs done faster and/or with an improved surface quality.

State-of-the-Art Design

With four cutting edges and multiple corner nose radii available, the robust VSM490-15 inserts provide added stability and reliability in addition to delivering true 90-degree shoulders and floors. Two insert geometries are available: MM (universal), making it the first choice for a range of work materials; and ML (light) with sharper cutting edges resulting in lower cutting forces for mild steels and stainless.

VSM490 cutter bodies made with tight tolerances to ensure minimum run-out have an integral chip gash design for excellent chip evacuation along with hardened-steel construction and hardened pocket seats for improved resistance to deformation. They are available in shell, screw on, cylindrical shank, and Weldon shank models with internal air and coolant capability.

“The VSM490 portfolio is engineered for multiple applications in multiple materials, making it a go-to milling tool,” Seculi says. “Users should expect true 90-degree shoulders and floors, superior surface finish on both, and higher metal-removal rates at lower horsepower for savings all around.”

Pramet’s popular shoulder milling range has been expanded with a new program of cutters, geometries and inserts.

This includes a program of helical cutters for roughing applications. Offering a depth of cut up to 108mm, the cutters are suitable for use with Pramet’s versatile ADMX 16 inserts and support medium machining of most engineering materials including cast iron, stainless steel and aluminium alloys.

The large clearance between the cutting teeth, combined with internal coolant delivery, promotes efficient chip evacuation. The axial clamping of inserts on the end teeth increases milling stability. This creates less noise and vibration which, in turn, also reduces tool wear.

Karel Tiefenbach, indexable milling product manager at Dormer Pramet, said: “The new range of helical cutters offers additional performance and reliability for a variety of operations including shoulder milling, grooving and contouring.

“Our ADMX 16 range is one of our most popular inserts. The creation of a new milling cutter further expands this versatile program. Customers can now use the same insert type for several milling cutters and applications, offering a more efficient and reliable service.”

As part of the launch, two new positive geometries – MF and MM – have been added for milling stainless steel, super alloys, low carbon steel and non-ferrous materials.

MF is a sharp and highly positive geometry, ideal for light machining and finishing operations.

MM is a universal sharp and highly positive geometry with stabilised cutting edge for finishing and semi-roughing operations.

For use with shoulder milling inserts ADMX11 and ADMX16, as well as the LNGX12 range, the new geometries’ positive rake angle provides low cutting resistance, reduced cutting forces and less power consumption.

Meanwhile, Pramet has also expanded its range of inserts for economical shoulder milling. New radii and geometries have been added to the LNGU/LNMU16 assortment to provide greater choice.

A further four radii options are now available offering a range of sizes from 0.8mm to 4.0mm. New geometries include F, M and R for machining stainless steel, steel and cast iron. A highly positive geometry FA is for copper and aluminium.

An overview of all the new indexable ranges launched by Dormer Pramet in November 2015 is available in its latest product brochure. To order a printed copy or for more information contact your local Dormer Pramet sales office.