Computer-aided-manufacturing (CAM) industry innovator DP Technology, creator of ESPRIT®, recently performed a successful test cut that was the first to use new turning spinning-tool technology developed jointly by Mori Seiki, a leader in the manufacturing of multi-axis mill-turn centers, and Kennametal Inc., a leader in cutting-tool technology. {{}}
Up to 500% Designed to distribute heat and wear more effectively than a single-point lathe tool, the new turning spinning-tool technology can increase productivity by up to 500 percent and tool life by up to 2’000 percent. This new cutting technology employs a specialized insert — similar in design to a round, or full-radius insert — mounted at the bottom of a cylindrical tool shank held in a rotary spindle. “This technology is promising because of all the advantages it provides,” said Olivier Thenoz, DP’s mill-turn product manager. “In the end, it means better productivity.”
Revolutionary way to work “The advantage of the spinning tool is that there is no one single point on the tool that is in contact with the work piece all the time,” Thenoz said, “and this is very good for heat dissipation and tool wear. Cutting conditions are no longer limited by the heat generated in the process, but by power available in the machine.” “Cutting forces generated while machining with single-point tools impart a bending movement on the tool and give rise to vibrations,” Chaphalkar said, explaining the potential benefits of an axially loaded tool. “In the case of axially loaded tools, such as a spinning tool, most of the cutting forces are directed axially into the spindle and hence significantly reduce vibrations. The point of this tool is to reduce vibration and chatter, and to increase tool life and productivity.” Embarked intelligence After being contacted by Mori Seiki in October of 2007, DP Technology became the only CAM company that demonstrated it was able to take on the challenge, and the Esprit Turning Spinning Tool Add-In was complete by the end of November. Chaphalkar said that, while he was able to program basic functions by hand, the ESPRIT Turning Spinning Tool Add-In is the right solution for making the most of the tool. “With ESPRIT, the programming complexities are made easier and customers will be able to use the technology efficiently,” he said.
About the Esprit Turning Spinning Tool Add-In The new Esprit Turning Spinning Tool Add-In makes it easy to use Mori Seiki’s new spinning tool technology. The add-in provides a new interface to define the size and shape of the tool being used and adds new machining technology parameters to all standard turning operations in Esprit that let the user define the rotation speed of the tool spindle and the angle of inclination for the cutting plane. For spinning tool turning operations, it is typical to set the tool spindle and turning spindles to the same revolutions per minute (RPM). The user has the option of creating the tool path in +Y or –Y in the YZ plane, and also has the ability to rotate the cutting plane about the Z axis to allow machining above or below the center line. The tilt of the tool is handled using a standard parameter available for any ESPRIT turning operation. ESPRIT supports full simulation of the cutting path with collision detection. The add-in also includes updated post processors for Mori Seiki machines. DP Technology Europe 68 allée de Mycènes 34000 Montpellier, France Tel. +33 (0)4 67 64 99 40 Fax +33 (0)4 67 64 99 41 Cell +33 (0)6 50 76 78 77 [email protected] www.dptechnology.com
