Increasing tool life remains one of the most discussed topics in the tooling sector. Hommel + Keller offers coated knurling wheels for prolonged tool life.
Tool life is undoubtedly one of the main criteria influencing the decision-making process for tool investments. Hommel + Keller now offers cost effective ways to increase tool life.
There are few topics in the tooling sector which give so much reason for discussion than the tool life, and more specifically its enhancement. Increasing tool life also constitutes an important factor in the product development processes at Hommel + Keller.
For many years now, Hommel + Keller has managed to enhance tool life through the professional heat treatment of ZEUS knurling tools and knurling wheels.
In close cooperation with the affiliate company H+K Härte- und Oberflächentechnik, specialist for galvanoplastic, salt bath and vacuum hardening, Hommel + Keller has advanced its technological lead by offering best results for heat treated tool solutions.
The expert knowledge and long experience of the material engineers, manifests itself in the variety of heat-treated knurling tool materials available (e.g heat-treated knurling wheels made of powder metallurgy steel).
In order to give the user even more possibilities in increasing tool life, the product range has now been expanded and includes TiN, TiCN, TiAIN. coated knurling wheels. Competent partner for the coatings is the newly founded affiliate company H+K Surface Technology GmbH. The cooperation between the three affiliate companies guarantees the high quality standards, leaving all critical production processes together in one group.
A frequent question addressed to the Hommel + Keller application technicians is the recommendation for the best coating that would increase the knurling wheels’ tool life. However, this is not a question easily answered, as the tool life of a knurling wheel depends on a variety of factors, making it almost impossible to come up with a generally valid recommendation.
The material processed, for example, is a decisive variable that influences tool life and the choice of a certain type of coating. But one can not ignore the other parameters, i.e the knurling wheel’s
diameter, the feed and speed rate, the knurling technique
machine type applied, which affect the interplay of coating, knurling wheel and tool life. As can be seen, the complexity and number of influencing variables make it impossible to formulate a general rule.
However, Hommel + Keller views it as a challenge to provide its customers with the best solution and an application specific recommendation in a matter as complex as this, too. Therefore a cooperative project has been called into life, by which Hommel + Keller is offering its partners the chance to take part in the test series “ Increased tool life with high-tech coatings”: This series of experiments offers the participating users the possibility to determine the optimal coating for their specific application. A long-term increase in tool life is hereby envisaged.
In close cooperation with the H+K Surface Technology GmbH the topic „Increased tool life with high-tech coatings“ will remain a constituent part of the group’s F&E activities in the future. All developments can be observed on the company’s website:
Author
Petra Volz
Assistentin der Geschäftsleitung
Hommel + Keller Präzisionswerkzeuge GmbH
Uhlandstrasse 4-8
78554 Aldingen
E-Mail: p.volz@hommel-keller.de
Internet: www.hommel-keller.de
www.zeus-tooling.com
Bilder & Text als ZIP Datei downloaden
