Cover Shots - March 2025

WE exchangeable heads are for internal machining from 0.276" (7mm) in diameter and axial grooving from 0.472" (12mm) in diameter. The WE positive engagement with three contact surfaces provides a high level of process reliability, stability, and accuracy. The tool maximizes flexibility due to the ability to replace the WE head in the same toolholder.

W3270/W3271 boring bars are available in 12mm to 16mm and 0.500" to 0.625" with clamping surface in steel and carbide. For universal applicability, the coolant outlet is on both sides for the W3270 radial boring bars. Rake face cooling and an additional flushing hole enable high-volume flow. The W3271 axial boring bars are handed (right hand/left hand) and have the coolant outlet either on the right- or left-hand side of the bar optimized for the most efficient cooling.

Inserts are made of grade WSM23X or WSM13X. The WSM23X is primarily for cutting steel, stainless steel, and materials with difficult machining properties. The secondary application is cutting non-ferrous metals. The PVD grade with a multiple-layer titanium aluminum nitride (TiAlN) coating and titanium nitride (TiN) top layer is for parting off/grooving and turning with a moderate to low cutting speed (vc) and axial depth of cut (ap).

The WSM13X has a higher wear resistance than WSM23X for stable machining conditions. The primary applications for the WSM13X are cutting steel, stainless steel, material with difficult machining properties, and non-ferrous metals. The PVD grade features a multiple-layer TiAlN coating.

The exchangeable head types include copy turning, thread turning, axial grooving, reverse turning, forward turning, forward turning with a ground chip breaker, and internal grooving.

Walter
https://www.walter-tools.com/us

Work location, time tracking feature

Cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution provider Cetec ERP launched a new Work Location and Time Tracking feature aimed at helping medical device manufacturers ensure compliance and improve workforce efficiency.

This feature prevents employees from logging time to a work order if they aren’t authorized to work at the designated location. Locations may be modeled as machines, pieces of equipment, specific processes, or steps in production. On a per user basis, companies can select multiple work locations where a user is allowed to log labor.

Ensure compliance: Prevent employees from working on equipment or tasks they aren’t certified or trained for by restricting time logging to approved work locations.

Accurate labor tracking: Track time spent on tasks and locations, allowing for better management of labor costs and compliance with industry standards.

Improved efficiency: Gain real-time visibility into workforce activity to help allocate employees more effectively and minimize downtime.

Easy to implement: It integrates directly into the Cetec ERP system and is simple to activate and manage.

CETEC ERP
https://www.cetecerp.com

Fast, accurate micrometer

High speed, accuracy: QuantumMike achieves spindle movement 4x faster than standard metric micrometers, enabling more efficient measurement with a maximum permissible error ±1μm. It’s produced with a highly accurate, wider thread pitch for the slim spindle. Unlike a typical metric micrometer with a 0.5mm screw lead, the thimble moves the spindle 2.0mm in a single rotation, allowing for rapid measurement. Because the spindle can be released by a large amount with just a small amount of rotation, it’s suitable for when various dimensions must be measured.

Reliability: The micrometer determines whether the measurement value is within the upper and lower limits of tolerance and displays a tolerance judgment mark. The user can judge pass/failure immediately and, using the calculation function, it’s possible to calculate correction values for machine tools from the measurement results. This eliminates the potential inconvenience of calculations and prevents human errors such as confusing plus and minus values when entering correction values into a machine tool.

Ease of use: Equipped with various features to meet the needs of operators, such as a large display and bidirectional communication, it’s designed for ease of use, and the main unit enables comfortable measurement during manufacturing processes. Frequently used functions can be easily recalled for improved work efficiency.

Mitutoyo
https://www.mitutoyo.com/