A key emphasis for Mapal will be its new drilling lines, in particular its solid carbide Tritan-Drill. The three-fluted Tritan-Drill offers extended tool life, higher feed rates, improved cutting performance and reduced tooling costs, when compared to two-fluted alternatives. In addition, the three-fluted design significantly improves hole concentricity, as the drill is self-centring.
This universal drill is said to be suited to a wide range of material types, and its innovative geometry optimises swarf removal and reduces cutting forces.
In tests, tool life improvements of 45% and cycle time reductions of 30% were seen; but these have been exceeded in the marketplace since launch last year.
Also new is the patented QTD indexable insert drill, which is produced by a laser sintering additive manufacturing (AM) process. Central coolant supply in drills tends to weaken the core of the drill and makes them unstable. Triangular coolant holes avoid this and also increase coolant flow by 100%, as well as improve chip removal, tool life and cutting performance. QTD is available with tool bodies from 1.5xD to 12xD and insert grades for drilling steel, stainless, cast iron and aluminium.
Exploiting AM again, Mapal has also developed a series of narrow contour hydraulic chucks that will also be seen for the first time in the UK at MACH.
The High Torque Chuck (HTC) range does not require an internal membrane sleeve and can clamp tool shanks 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 mm in diameter. The sleeveless design reduces set-up but, more importantly, the HTC line has a narrow contour, allowing the clamping of small tool shanks and extended tool reach.
Combining the benefits of hydraulic clamping technology with a taper of just three degrees, the clamping area can be positioned very closely to the front of the chucks; a feat impossible with conventional production methods. This ensures an optimum concentricity of <3 micron at the locating bore and <5 micron at 2.5xD.
