Mitsubishi combines indexable carbide head and carbide holder in iMX series

The taper and end clamping faces of the Mitsubishi Materials iMX head and the holder are both solid carbide with only the threaded part made from steel. Conventionally, tools with a carbide head to a carbide clamping section are constructed with a part-carbide section brazed to a steel shank. This joint is a potential weakness. In addition to offering the possibility of increasing cutting parameters and improved accuracy, iMX exchangeable end mills enable a reduction in tool inventory and tool change times. The primary application area for the series is in the machining of titanium alloys and heat resistant alloys such as Inconel. They are also capable of high performance milling of stainless steels, carbon and alloy steels, and hardened steels. Each head type has irregular helix flutes for vibration control and a four-flute corner radius type that incorporates through coolant holes. The wear resistance coated carbide grade EP7020, a super fine, super hard carbide substrate has a Smart Miracle (Al, Cr N) coating that is given a smoothening treatment that improves finish quality, cutting resistance and chip discharge. iMX heads – all featuring an irregular helix for vibration control – are supplied in 10 to 25 mm diameters in four-flute corner radius (with or without provision for through coolant); in six, 10 and 12-flute for finishing; and four-flute and six-flute ball nose. iMX carbide shanks are also provided in 10 -25 mm diameters.