LMT increases performance of HSS tooling with PM-Evolution range

Marketed under the PM-Evolution banner, the tooling will provide a more consistent performance, have greater wear resistance due to higher hardness levels and is more robust than normal HSS cutting tools. The PM-Evolution tool range includes a complete series of endmill for roughing, combined roughing and finishing, as well as finishing tools for different material types. Also included are slot drills, shell endmills, ball nose endmills, side and face milling cutters, form milling cutters, T-slot, angle, Woodruff and corner-rounding concave cutters. Each type of tool can be ordered with LMT's high performance A12 plus coating which creates further improvements in durability and wear resistance, especially against cratering. Due to the low levels of thermal conductivity created by the coating, any heat generated during the cutting process is restricted from being transferred into the body of the tool. As a result, overall productivity increases from the coated HSS range can be to the order of 50 per cent. As an example, from a recent tool trial compared A12 plus coated against TiCN uncoated HSS endmills, both of 16 mm diameter and each with four cutting edges. They were run at 100 m/min and a feed rate of 16 mm/min. By the time both tools displayed equal levels of wear, the coated version had covered 120 m of cutting length against just 58 m for the standard tool. The complete range of PM-Evolution tools is outlined with application and cutting data in a 36 page brochure available from LMT UK.