New Cutters for Rapid Removal Rates from ITC

29 April 2013

To improve productivity and tool life when rough machining steel, stainless steel, cast iron, high temperature alloys and hard materials, Industrial Tooling Corporation (ITC) has now introduced its Widia Hanita 4976 Series of end mills.

Now available in ITC's new Widia Slimline catalogue that contains high performance end mills and drills, the new solid carbide end mills are manufactured from a high quality micro grain carbide that is AlTiN coated to deliver exceptional material removal rates when machining a wide selection of materials. Capable of side milling, slotting and ramping processes, the new 4976 Series is available with either three or four flutes to offer a solution for a diverse range of customers and applications. To optimise the performance of this new range, ITC recommends that end users utilise robust and rigid machine tools capable of meeting the optimal speed and feed range of the cutters.

With a diameter range that includes 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16 and 20mm and a maximum length of cut from 8 to 38mm, the 4976 Series has been developed with optimal geometries and proportionate dimensions to guarantee remarkable levels of rigidity and material removal rates. To promote the elimination of chatter and vibration by improving cutting efficiency on hard materials, the 4976 Series incorporates a 'new generation' flat shallow pitch ripper form. This significantly improves performance on particularly difficult to machine materials.

With an overall cutter length from 57 to 104mm depending upon diameter selected, the 4976 has been manufactured to offer material removal rates far beyond alternate cutting tools, whilst minimising the loads and stresses on the machine tool.
Incorporating an optimised 30degree polished flute geometry, swarf is removed from the cutting zone with astounding efficiency. This eliminates any potential for re-cutting of the chips and the inevitable cutting edge damage that is an issue for alternate milling cutters. To ensure that chipping of the cutting edge is eliminated, the 4976 Series has a 0.25mm chamfer on diameters from 4 to 10mm and a 0.35mm chamfer on end mills from 12 to 20mm diameter.

The ability of the new range to cut an extremely diverse range of material types makes the 4976 Widia Hanita Series the ideal choice for general machine shops cutting all types of steels, iron and hard materials. This capability can drastically reduce tooling inventory and costs for machine shops. However, it is the ability of the 4976 to reduce cycle times and extend tool life that will be the clear attraction for manufacturers aiming to reduce costs and improve productivity. With a host of high performance drilling and milling products available ex-stock at extremely competitive prices, the new Widia Slimline Catalogue from ITC can be downloaded from the company's new website at: http://www.itc-ltd.co.uk/downloads/metal-working-catalogues