Complete Tooling Solutions from ITC at MACH

19 February 2022

UK cutting tool manufacturer, Industrial Tooling Corporation (ITC) will once again be demonstrating the ‘Best of British’ at the forthcoming MACH 2022 exhibition. From the 4th to the 8th of April, the Tamworth based cutting tool company will be introducing a host of new solid carbide and PCD tooling innovations as well as introducing the latest new product lines from WIDIA, BIG KAISER, Kemmler and Bass.

To complement the expansive ITC range of industry-leading cutting tools at MACH, Stand 555 in Hall 20 will introduce the groundbreaking innovations from BIG KAISER. This will include a MACH debut for the EWN Smart Damper precision boring heads.

For any manufacturers involved in boring operations, ITC has expanded the BIG KAISER offering of precision boring heads. Now, the UK’s leading cutting tool manufacturer has released two smaller sizes of the EWN Smart Damper precision boring heads – the CK1 and CK2. The new heads eliminate vibration in deep-hole finish boring with a patented damping system.

The additions make it the first time the EWN Smart Damper has been available in diameters below 32mm, taking it down to 19.99mm. The CK1 head has a length of 100mm and the CK2 125mm. BIG KAISER’s modular CK/CKB system allows for versatility in the length of tooling combinations, giving the customer a maximum of 10XD boring that can run on nearly every major spindle interface.

All tools have through coolant facility and have three different insert holder options per head size. The EWN analogue head features a dial with Ø0.012mm/div setting accuracy with vernier adjustment down to 0.0025mm. The integral design of the new Smart Damper heads shortens the distance from the damping mechanism to the cutting edge, which can be a source of vibration. By shortening this distance, the new EWN produces improved damping effects on the tool assembly and this minimises chatter and vibration.

Alongside the huge range of precision boring heads, ITC will introduce the BIG KAISER hydraulic chucks for Swiss-type turning centres in what was considered the first major improvement to the technology for more than 30 years. BIG KAISER has expanded the program to include inch-size Standard Type chucks, as well as the new F-Type and R-Type chucks. The new F-Type single wrench system simplifies cutting tool changes on the tool post, saving setting time for the machine operator. The easy-access rear clamping design is ideal for configurations where the hydraulic chucks are installed on the front tool post of a sliding head turning centre. Clamping from the opposite side of the cutting tool and the optimised overall length design improves overall ease of use. The F-Type is available in a clamping range from 3 to 10mm and through coolant delivery is also possible. Alongside the new F-Type single wrench system is the exciting new R-Type designation. This innovative design eliminates interference when working on both the upper and lower tool post positions. This is a credit to a unique block design and screw tightening at an offset position on the tool side.

Also on show at MACH from the BIG KAISER portfolio will be the Mega Synchro Tapping Chuck. The innovative new tapping chuck has a special function built-in to compensate for synchronisation errors that may occur during rigid tapping. With more than 60 body types and 193 tap holders, the exceptionally diverse portfolio enables the end-user to select the perfect combination between the fixture and the tap holder, providing the ideal cantilever length for any machine and processing scenario.

There is a multitude of tapping systems available, however, synchronisation errors often remain during tapping. The Mega Synchro Tapping Chuck compensates for synchronisation errors with any type of tap as the system minimises thrust load to both the tap and workpiece.

Another product destined to improve set-ups, precision and productivity is the Base Master high-precision compact touch sensor that rapidly determines workpiece offsets and tool lengths. The Base Master has a compact design that makes it very fast and easy to use while providing extremely accurate results. For rapid reference point detection, it is fitted with a bright red LED that illuminates at exactly 50mm from the reference surface. This allows the operator to quickly touch off a tool with zero risk of damage or breakage, thereby saving precious time and money. The Base Master has very tight repeatability of only ±0.001mm and for maximum flexibility, it has a solid magnetic base that mounts vertically, horizontally, or at any angle. If you want to take your precision and performance to another level, make sure you visit ITC at MACH 2022 on Stand 555 in Hall 20.