High-feed mills suit aerospace materials

To enhance milling performance on ISO S materials, Sandvik Coromant is introducing a new series of end mills. CoroMill Plura HFS (High-Feed Side milling) cutters are intended for use on workpieces made from titanium and nickel-based alloys, bringing benefits to both aerospace engine and frame applications.

Sandvik Coromant’s CoroMill Plura HFS range comprises two end-mill families for titanium alloys, and one for nickel alloys. As chip evacuation and heat are specific challenges when machining titanium, the company has developed a solid version for normal chip evacuation conditions, and another featuring internal coolant and a new cooling booster (patent pending) for swarf and temperature control.
The end mills for titanium are available in GC1745 grade, which is based on a fine-grained (sub-micron) cemented-carbide substrate. A new multi-layer coating that contains silicon is said to provide good wear resistance and low thermal conductivity. The geometry of the cutters is based on a six-flute concept with no centre cut and uneven tooth pitch. Additionally, the core dimension has been optimised for higher stiffness in titanium alloys, while the corner radius, rake angle and relief are all designed specifically for machining ISO S materials.
For nickel alloys, grade GC1710 is deployed, which features a wear-resistant, fine-grained substrate designed to withstand high working loads when machining hard, highly adhesive, work-hardened materials such as aged Inconel 718. Here, a new coating produced with HIPIMS (high power impulse magnetron sputtering) technology offers adhesion-reducing properties to avoid the formation of BUE (built-up edge) and increase tool life.
For further information www.sandvik.coromant.com