Available in diameters from 0.70 to 3.00 mm, with intermediate diameters in increments of 0.05 mm, the Sphinx Drinox features several key enhancements:

• Coolant-through channels

The coolant-through pilot drill features a power chamber in the shank to maximize the coolant output, ensuring a steady flow even with lower coolant pump performances.

• TiSiN coating

The newly developed ultra-thin coating ensures high tool sharpness, improving chip removal and preventing material from sticking.

• Proven high-performance geometry

The 90° cutting step and tool head are based on the geometry of proven high-performance tools, which perform exceptionally well in stainless steels, titanium and heat-resistant Ni or Co alloys.

“For those looking to gain an edge in high-stakes drilling applications, the Drinox is the way to go,” says Alan Miller, senior manager engineering. “Sphinx has been a trusted partner for years, and this new release reinforces their reputation for quality and performance.”

About BIG DAISHOWA

As a member of the BIG DAISHOWA Group (Osaka, Japan), BIG DAISHOWA Inc. is a recognized global tooling provider, with manufacturing facilities in North America, Switzerland and Japan. BIG DAISHOWA is also the North American representative of Speroni tool measuring machines, Sphinx high performance drills, mptec measuring stands, Tekusa spindle cleaners and the UNILOCK zero-point workholding system.

The drill features three coolant outlets per tooth—on the main cutting edge, chisel edge and circumference—for precise maximum cooling. Because the drill is double effective, a total of six coolant outlets work to cool the insert at the cutting zone.

With its 120° point, the drill is capable of an inclined entry up to 10° and an inclined exit up to 20°. This capability is higher than the typical 5° inclined entry and exit limits for other drills in its class. The drill also performs effectively in cross-hole applications, with four margins engaged to support the drilling operation and impart a fine surface finish.

The drill’s DS42 replaceable tip is made of the WPP25 grade, which features a fine-grained carbide substrate and an aluminum titanium nitride (AlTiN) coating deposited via high power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS). The gold-colored top layer provides the best wear detection.

The tool is suitable for drilling blind holes and through holes from solid workpieces, as well as for stack, or laminate, drilling. The primary application is for drilling steel (ISO P material group), and the secondary applications are for cast iron and non-ferrous materials (ISO K and N material groups).

The drill produces precise holes due to four ground margins on the cutting edge in addition to Walter’s face grinding process for creating the best insert seating and centering characteristics. Polished chip flutes ensure quick and reliable chip removal. Two radial clamping screws enable a high level of process stability.

The drilling depths for the Drion∙tec® D-Spade D5142 replaceable tip drill are 3 and 5 × Dc. The drill can create holes from 12 to 25.70 mm, including inch-nominal sizes.

About Walter

Walter, a global leader in the metalworking industry for over 100 years, offers a wide range of precision tools for milling, turning, drilling and threading applications. The company helps customers in the aviation and aerospace industries, automotive, energy, and general metalworking industry improve process reliability and increase productivity. As an innovative partner capable of creating digital process solutions for optimal efficiency, Walter is pioneering Industry 4.0 throughout the machining industry. With Regional Headquarters in Greer, SC, Walter markets its competence brands Walter, Walter Titex, Walter Prototyp and Walter Multiply through a network of channel partners and field engineers across the USA, Canada, Mexico and Brazil.

The full radial margin provides 360° support to the cutting edge while in the cut. This design helps the drill to provide maximum process reliability in challenging applications, such as cross-hole drilling and those involving inclined exits, without having to reduce the feed rate. The radial margin support also ensures exceptional smooth surface finishes, hole roundness and vibration-free cutting.

The DD170 Supreme drill features 12 coolant grooves, which have a new profile for enhanced process reliability when machining relatively soft, gummy materials such as AISI 1010 or AISI 1018. The 12 grooves also allow for more possible regrinding operations. The coolant grooves effectively cool the cutting edge, significantly extending tool life even at elevated cutting feeds. The drill can be used with emulsion or oil coolant.

The tool’s variable clearance tip geometry provides the best centering capabilities, eliminating pilot drilling up to 12 × Dc. The diameter range is from 3 to 20 mm, including factional inch sizes. The tool can drill 3 × Dc in according with the DIN 6537 standard, 5 × Dc in accordance with DIN 6537 long, 8 × Dc in accordance with the Walter standard and 12 × Dc in accordance with the Walter Norm standard. The drill has a 140°-point angle.

Areas of use include mold and die making, general mechanical engineering and the automotive, aerospace and energy industries.

The Walter lineup of products consists of three categories of tools. Supreme tools indicate the highest level of technology and performance available. Advance tools indicate products efficiently balanced between price and performance and Perform tools are products that provide an economical solution with focused importance on price ideal for small batch production.

About Walter

Walter, a global leader in the metalworking industry for over 100 years, offers a wide range of precision tools for milling, turning, drilling and threading applications. The company helps customers in the aviation and aerospace industries, automotive, energy, and general metalworking industry improve process reliability and increase productivity. As an innovative partner capable of creating digital process solutions for optimal efficiency, Walter is pioneering Industry 4.0 throughout the machining industry. With Regional Headquarters in Greer, SC, Walter markets its competence brands Walter, Walter Titex, Walter Prototyp and Walter Multiply through a network of channel partners and field engineers across the USA, Canada, Mexico and Brazil.

The CERATIZIT UP2DATE catalog is now available, showcasing the latest product developments and advancements for the cutting tool industry. Designed to help customers optimize machining performance, extend tool life, and maximize production efficiency, this edition features tooling solutions tailored to meet intricate milling and micromachining operations. Included in the spring 2025 UP2DATE edition are the MaxiMill – Slot-SNHX milling cutter, the MaxiMill – Tangent milling cutter, and the WTX – Micropilot micro drill.

“Customers come to us for more effective and productive cutting tools which we deliver with support and technical expertise,” says Troy Wilt, Managing Director of CERATIZIT USA. “Applying our technical expertise in the field often leads to new and better solutions that work across multiple industry sectors.”

Groove milling made easy

The MaxiMill – Slot-SNHX is a robust side and face milling cutter system that is engineered for exceptional performance across a range of materials, including steel, cast iron, and aluminum. The innovative tool is designed to deliver soft cuts while effectively avoiding interfering contours, making it an ideal solution for diverse milling applications.

The MaxiMill – Slot-SNHX features trouble-free contours on the face side and sufficient axial freedom of movement that ensure smooth machining — even in hard-to-reach areas. Thanks to precision-ground indexable inserts, machinists can expect a flat groove base that ensures perfect surfaces from the very first cut. The system is also equipped with an internal coolant supply up to a diameter of 200 mm, which minimizes chip jamming and further boosts efficiency.

The MaxiMill – Slot-SNHX is available in three models to offer the most universal connection on the market. These slip-on milling cutters offer diameter ranges from 80mm to 200mm each of which include internal coolant supply, and multiple sized cutting widths. The screw-in milling cutter also provides an internal coolant supply on diameters of 50mm, 63mm, and 80mm and cutting widths of 6mm and 8mm. The milling cutter with cylindrical shank and internal coolant supply is available to CERATIZIT customers in diameters of 50mm, 63mm, 80mm and 100mm as well as cutting widths of 6mm and 8mm.

Better reach and pace 

The MaxiMill – Tangent is CERATIZIT’s new tangential indexable milling cutter designed for machining hard-to-reach steel or cast iron components. Engineered to deliver stable and soft-cutting machining, it provides a uniform chamfer profile over the entire length of the cutting edge for maximum stability within a single system.

The MaxiMill – Tangent has indexable inserts optimized for machining ISO P and ISO K materials. Moreover, it features a maximum infeed depth of 8 mm for the -09 insert, while the larger model goes even further to 12 mm. The MaxiMill – Tangent includes universal -M50 and -F50 chip breakers, offering enhanced cutting-edge stability due to a reduced radial clearance angle.

Furthermore, there is an integrated face-cutting edge, which offers machining benefits, including uniform material removal that results in a smoother component surface. In addition, the cutting forces are distributed more evenly and reduce the load on both the tool and the machine.

The MaxiMill – Tangent is available in three mounting styles: shell mill, screw-in cutter, and straight shank. Cutter diameters range from 25mm to 125mm. The large and stable contact surfaces in the integrated carrier inserts carrier provide additional stability and reliability. Plus, compared to radial systems, tangential clamping provides extra space for significantly more indexable inserts on the milling cutter body, thus guaranteeing maximum cutting-edge density and efficiency. Inserts can be rotated, turned, and replaced quickly and easily to prevent any drop-offs in efficiency during tool changes.

A complete micro drill system 

The WTX – Micropilot is an innovative micro drill used for spot drilling small components with intricate geometries. Working in tandem with CERATIZIT’s WTX – Micro, the pilot drill is small in stature and delivers big performance with exceptional accuracy and time-savings for micro-sized components.

The risk of micro-sized components becoming scrap is high. Several things can go wrong: drills run off, drill holes get crooked, tools break, and the workpiece itself can become damaged. With a special drill point angle of 160 degrees, the WTX – Micropilot guarantees maximum positioning accuracy and prevents wandering while drilling to achieve extreme precision within a single run. Since it is designed to co-drill with the WTX – Micro, the usual mirroring required for drilling inclined and curved surfaces with an inclination up to 50 is no longer necessary, saving time and tool changes.

Additionally, the WTX – Micropilot is coated in CERATIZIT’s innovative Dragonskin for optimum chip clearance and extended tool life. It also has spiral internal cooling channels to ensure maximum flow of cooling lubricant for improved surface finish.

About CERATIZIT USA, Inc.

Part of the CERATIZIT Group, CERATIZIT USA designs and manufactures high quality standard and custom tooling for the metalworking industry. CERATIZIT USA, LLC is a solutions and service provider for many different industry segments, including automotive, aerospace, and energy. With a highly specialized staff, expansive product portfolio and an International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) registration, CERATIZIT USA provides manufacturers with the complete application engineering, service and training support needed for maximum productivity and cost-effectiveness.

Easy to use and versatile
For simple, easy-to-use, versatile tool holding, the three versions of Seco Hydraulic Chucks include the HC Conventional, HCR Reinforced and the HCS Slim. The HC Conventional version delivers precision holding for drilling, reaming and light milling. As a universal solution, the HCR Reinforced version provides effective holding for all applications from HSM to HPM and for all kinds of tool shank types like Cylindrical, Weldon and Whistle Notch. The HCS Slim holder version is ideal for accessing deep, narrow part cavities during 5-axis machining at high speeds.

“Complicated tool holding systems not only require special care and training to avoid operator injury, they add extra time and costs,” said Seco Product Manager Yves Heitz. “Seco Hydraulic Chucks and Reduction Sleeves eliminate the risk as well as any extra maintenance to allow users to get in the cut faster while gaining tool holding versatility with less required tooling.”

For added flexibility to accommodate a wide range of cutting tool sizes, 05FHC slotted Reduction Sleeves for the Hydraulic Chucks allow one holder to handle various shank diameters. They provide through-tool or peripheral cooling capabilities and work with either metric or inch-size tools.

Low runout and high precision
According to Heitz, at high spindle speeds, controlling tool holder runout is imperative. When machining at speeds up to 25,000 rpm for example, Seco Hydraulic Chucks and Expansion Sleeves minimize runout and the vibration it causes. Users gain worry-free tool holding without the added cost of specialty holders.

To keep vibration under control, Seco Hydraulic Chucks incorporate internal reservoirs in which oil generates strong 360° tool clamping forces and acts as a natural vibration dampening system – engaged with the simple turn of a hex screw. Additionally, reduction sleeves compress uniformly and completely around tool shanks for precise centering and holding strength.

The slotted reduction sleeves come in sealed and peripherical coolant versions, and the Hydraulic Chucks support all Seco round tools. The holders are compatible with all common machine tool spindle interfaces, including HSK, DIN, BT, BT Taper/face, CAT, CAT

Taper/face and cylindrical straight shanks. Metric shank tools clamp directly in chuck IDs, while inch shanks are held through use of the reduction sleeves.

In industries such as aerospace, automotive, energy and food service that often machine stainless steel and HRSA materials, the cost-effectiveness and reliable performance of the M geometry insert are a necessity due to the high costs of these raw materials, which are among the highest in manufacturing. Because the use of these materials continues to grow in many industries, improved drilling solutions like the M geometry target difficult-to-machine materials—a key factor in remaining competitive in any market.

Additionally, the design elements of the T-A Pro M geometry allow larger diameters—1 inch and above—to be used on smaller or under-powered machines where additional setups on other machine tools would be needed or where parts would need to be contracted out. Machining components in-house cost-effectively while meeting specifications every time ultimately increases throughput and profitability.

John Weniger, product manager, shares that “In a material class where applications are known to bring unpredictable results, the new M geometry T-A Pro insert has been engineered to provide a winning combination of tool life, penetration rate, and process reliability so that you can feel confident when applying the tool to your specific needs. The addition of the M geometry solidifies the T-A Pro line as a comprehensive, industry leading solution when it comes to holemaking.”

About Allied Machine & Engineering

Allied Machine & Engineering is a leading manufacturer of holemaking and finishing tooling systems. Allied devotes its advanced engineering and manufacturing capabilities to creating the widest selection of value-added tooling available to metal-cutting industries around the world. Our tooling solutions deliver the lowest cost per hole in a wide range of drilling, reaming, threading, boring, and burnishing applications.
Located in Dover, Ohio, Allied’s precision holemaking technologies provide end users worldwide with the highest level of drill performance. Precision engineering and expert application support make Allied the first and best choice for solving complex metal-cutting challenges.

Chip Formation: Shape & Size

When looking at chip formation, a key indicator of a good chip is the shape. The preferred outcome for any application is chips shaped as sixes and nines or a single conical shape. These small, manageable chips are essential for efficient, predictable drilling. Nevertheless, it is important to be aware of what chips in other shapes and sizes can indicate. For example, a straight, flat chip is a result of elasticity. If the chip is a continuous ribbon, then there are likely many adjustments that need to be made in order to achieve ideal chips.

The size of the chips impacts evacuation as well. There are two major factors that impact the size of chips in drilling tools: chip breakers, also known as chip splitters, and lip geometry. With chip breakers, the width of the chip is thinned to allow for easier evacuation; the wider the chip the easier it is to get it to roll onto itself and break. Lip geometry acts as a mechanical chip breaker to fracture a chip by curling the chip on top of itself or by impacting the chip forming with the backside of the lip radius. Although harder materials will curl a chip on top of itself to create chip fracture, gummier materials often skip over the lip radius and only fracture after impacting the back of the lip radius. Still, the purpose of the combined chip breakers and positive lip geometry is to break off the chip so that it is narrow enough to easily evacuate.

Chip fracturing can also occur naturally due to the velocity differential between the outside and inside of a chip, which creates a cone-shaped chip that curls on itself and fractures. Because larger diameter inserts have a higher velocity differential than smaller diameter inserts, it is easier to fracture chips i.e., the larger the chip breaker spacing the more chip fracturing that will occur. Smaller diameter inserts are limited to the velocity differential available due to the restriction on the chip width required to easily evacuate chips through the holder gullet.

Thickness

The thickness of the chip varies with the feed rate; heavier feed rates form thicker chips while lighter feed rates form thinner chips. The thickness of the chip formed decides how the chip will fracture, but this is also dependent on the material being machined. At the same time, changing the speed impacts the chip thickness; the higher the speed of the tool, the more heat generated in the cut, which makes the material more elastic. So a balance between speeds and feeds is necessary. With many materials, a thicker chip means there is a greater chance of exceeding the elastic limit of the materials, which increases the likelihood of chip fracture; on the other hand, thinner chips are more elastic and, thus, farther away from the elastic limit necessary to fracture the chip.

Soft, gummy materials like soft carbon steels, 300 series stainless steel or pure titanium have a high elastic limit—so much so that increasing chip thickness has a negative effect on chip formation. Materials like these require specific lip geometries to potentially create an acceptable chip. Nevertheless, it is key to look at the chip deformation ratio of materials to better understand chip thickness. The chip deformation ratio can be defined as the ratio of deformed chip thickness over the undeformed chip thickness (feed rate). For most steels, this ratio is typically 2-3:1; however, it can be as high as 5-10:1 for those soft, gummy materials. Ultimately, though, this measurement is an indicator of chip form and elasticity in the material being cut, and the higher the deformation, the more difficult chip formation will be.

Coolant

When it comes to coolant, through-tool coolant when paired with the right drill geometry is critical for the best chip formation and evacuation. Additionally, changing coolant type, pressure and volume influence the thermal shocking of chips. This can change the properties of the chips and make them more or less likely to break into manageable segments. For example, coolants can decrease material elasticity due to the strain hardening that occurs as coolant quickly cools hot, elastic chips. The cooling of elastic, continuous chip formation embrittles chips to the point of fracture by reducing their elastic limit.

For chip evacuation, coolant pressure and volume are important. To evacuate a set volume of chips, a set amount of kinetic energy is provided by the coolant volume. Drilling can occur uninterrupted from the top of the hole to the bottom as long as enough coolant volume is available, which will be evident during the application with a steady load meter reading while drilling. With an insufficient coolant volume, an unsteady load meter will be detected when drilling into the hole. Although this does not mean that drilling with insufficient coolant is not possible, it does demonstrate that the drill must be altered to fit the environment.

Pressure on the other hand is the force behind the coolant that provides a fixed volume of coolant through a given diameter. As coolant pressure is increased through a fixed coolant orifice diameter, the coolant volume will increase. When drilling small diameters, high coolant pressure is needed in order to provide sufficient coolant volume, but as drill diameters increase, high coolant volume becomes more necessary than high coolant pressure. In high-production drilling—especially deep hole drilling—the tool coolant is critical because it provides an upward force on the chip to aid in flushing the chips through the drill flutes and out of the hole. Although flood coolant can be used alternatively to through-tool coolant in short drilling applications under two times diameter, in deeper holes flood does not promote good heat transfer and can also push chips back into the hole, which can cause chip packing.

Through-tool coolant is also important when factoring in heat because it provides coolant right to the cutting edge where it is needed to cool the tool. When machining, 60% of the heat generated in the plastic deformation of the material remains with the chip formed while the other 40% remains with the tool and workpiece. This portion that stays with the tool must be evacuated by coolant in order to have sufficient tool life. Clearly, when more coolant pressure and volume can go through the tool, the cooler the tool will run. This then means that there will be greater tool life and that the tool can potentially be run faster.

Tool Selection

Chip formation can also indicate whether the best tool is being used. If the chip formation is not meeting the standard, a change to tool geometry may be needed in order to improve the situation. Clearly, the geometry of a cutting tool has a significant impact on the chip formed. Specifically, increases in rake angles can improve chip formation, yet this does come at a cost because the greater the rake angle the weaker the cutting edge.

Rake angle also highly influences the value of the shear plane angle, which is the angle formed by the pure plastic deformation of the workpiece material. Here, the material starts deforming or chip forming in front of the cutting edge. For both material properties and running parameters, the angle varies; however, it should always be a goal to make the shear plane angle more vertical because the steeper the shear plane the better chip formation.

Chip thickness comes into play here as well. The more elastic a material is the steeper the shear plane angle will be, resulting in a thinner chip. Conversely, the harder the material is, the flatter the shear plane angle will be, which means a thicker chip is formed. All in all, more rake angle means more shear angle, which means better chips, but balance is key here as well. A really sharp cutting edge will make great chips but will fail and break due to a smaller cutting edge cross section and weaker cutting edge, so find balance in the rake angle—one that is aggressive but not overly so.

Changes in Chip Formation

A final thing to look for when examining chips is any changes in chip formation. If chip formation is altered during an application, it could be caused by a myriad of elements: wear on the tool, built up edge on the tool (BUE) or changes in the environment like coolant or material changes. In new applications, it may be best to drill shallow test holes and take a look at the chips to make sure they are small and segmented. Being conservative in the beginning with speeds and feeds could also aid in better understanding chip formation and what adjustments need to be made.

Awareness of any changes in chip formation is key, though. Poor chip formation can cause major problems in drilling applications. Long, continuous chips are difficult to evacuate and can become packed in the drill flutes, damaging the drill or even causing drill failure. These long chips could also become wrapped around the drill body and again cause tool failure. Lastly, poor chip formation impacts the hole quality. If chips are dragging or packing in the flutes, there will be poor hole finish. Noticing any changes in chip formation is important not only for tool life and hole quality but also for the overall success of the application.

Knowing more about the chips formed in any metal cutting application enables machinists to better control the outcome and success of drilling operations. While it is necessary to examine chip size, shape and thickness, it is just as important to know how coolant, tool selection and changes in chip formation tie into the application as well. So take a look at the chips being created and break it down chip by chip because both proper chip formation and chip evacuation are required for successful high-production drilling.

About Allied Machine & Engineering

Allied Machine & Engineering is a leading manufacturer of holemaking and finishing tooling systems. Allied devotes its advanced engineering and manufacturing capabilities to creating the widest selection of value-added tooling available to metal-cutting industries around the world. Our tooling solutions deliver the lowest cost per hole in a wide range of drilling, reaming, threading, boring, and burnishing applications.

Located in Dover, Ohio, Allied’s precision holemaking technologies provide end users worldwide with the highest level of drill performance. Precision engineering and expert application support make Allied the first and best choice for solving complex metal-cutting challenges.

Previously, when machining firearms, some processes were manual or utilized numerous different tools; however, as tooling innovations have developed, the process of machining has evolved. Oftentimes, tools now are far superior to those used in previous firearm production methods. This provides the opportunity to combine operations into a single cutting tool, eliminating the need for additional tooling in the machine shop. In addition, new innovations in tooling provide manufacturers with a better output like improved surface finish or decreased cycle time. Nevertheless, there is still a need to work toward standardizing tooling in the firearm industry. While manufacturers often have their own take on the radius, angle change, etc., standardization is becoming more common. For example, a standard reamer could be used for all one-inch diameter holes in an AR upper receiver; however, there could still be a delay in acquiring the tools if specific reamers are needed because of the needs of different specs.

Holemaking and hole finishing are part of the machining process for numerous firearm components. One example of this would be revolver cylinders, which in some cases require a three-step process: pre-drill, pre ream, and finish ream. Form is critical throughout these applications because it must match the bullet casing. Other firearm components that need holemaking and hole finishing applications include AR upper receivers, gas blocks and bolt carriers, which house the firing pin and bolt itself.

In deciding what type of material to use in firearm components, manufacturers must consider a few characteristics: weight, strength and aesthetic. Take steel as an example. It is durable and versatile, making it easier to manipulate into the small parts needed within firearms, yet it is a heavier material. While this does present some challenges, it also provides better control and repeatable accuracy. Conversely, when using aluminum, strength and durability are compromised for the benefit of less weight; therefore, it is best to consider a type of aluminum alloy.

Ultimately, the materials used must be reliable because of the stress they are put under, the heavy usage, and the strict requirements of the industry itself. While firearms are often heat-treated, it is best to complete holemaking applications prior to this; after being heat-treated, the material is typically too hard for drills because it is as if machinists are asking two like materials to get along. Instead, the drill should be harder than the material you are drilling; something that is challenging to achieve.

Whether it is alloys, titaniums or another high-grade exotic material, tool life is vital in the holemaking and finishing applications. One of the key needs of manufacturing firearms is sequential, repeatable processes; thus, tool life is needed to maintain optimal production cycles. Although tool life issues like dulling or breaking can sometimes be easily resolved by switching to a different geometry or coating, there are times where greater changes need to be implemented. Chatter, for example, can cause poor tool life, so manufacturers would need to evaluate their fixturing, work holding or machine maintenance in general. Performing machine maintenance or replacing tooling ultimately impacts production time, so it is best to utilize rigid machines and high-grade materials when possible.

Surface finish is one of the most important elements when machining firearm components such as bolt carriers, upper and lower receivers, and silencers. More specifically, surface finish is key for firearm chambers because of the need to accept the incoming cartridge, which determines the accuracy of the rifle and the load being fired on target. When drilling or reaming, surface finish is critical—the smoother the surface finish the less friction and less wear. Clearly, there needs to be a smooth and consistent finish free of burrs; otherwise, this becomes a fracture point. Ultimately, surface finish impacts the functionality of the machined firearm while negatively impacting the life of the barrel as well.

At the same time, there needs to be consistent wear coming from the finishing tools and on the finished part itself so that there is no excessive friction or wear. Here, CNC operations provide the most accuracy and consistency while creating a process that can be easily replicated. Not only do manual processes produce an inconsistent surface finish, but they also are more costly to production and the well-being of the operator—both of which impact product quality. Therefore, CNC machining improves the performance and life of the firearms because of the ability to remove microscopic peaks and valleys in the material.

Machining firearms clearly requires precision and efficiency. Whether drilling or reaming, it is necessary for machine shops and manufacturers to develop a process that is repeatable, sequential and effective in producing the high standards—like that of surface finish—needed in the firearm industry.

About Allied Machine & Engineering:

Allied Machine & Engineering is a leading manufacturer of holemaking and finishing tooling systems. Allied devotes its advanced engineering and manufacturing capabilities to creating the widest selection of value-added tooling available to metal-cutting industries around the world. Our tooling solutions deliver the lowest cost per hole in a wide range of drilling, reaming, threading, boring, and burnishing applications.

Located in Dover, Ohio, Allied’s precision holemaking technologies provide end-users worldwide with the highest level of drill performance. Precision engineering and expert application support make Allied the first and best choice for solving complex metal-cutting challenges.

3E^TECH combines precision adjustment measurement in the tool with an external, dockable and detachable digital display that shows the adjustment setting. This user-friendly, micro-precision readout capability facilitates reliable machining processes for high-precision components. A sensor unit fitted to the display makes direct contact with the tool to record the adjustment travel. Wired, Bluetooth or magnetic connections are not required.

As of June, the 538052 (537052) precision boring cartridge is equipped with 3E^TECH. Made of hardened steel, it is extremely robust and resistant to all external mechanical influences. It can be used on serrated tool bodies and Alu-Line slide tools in the diameter range from 3.937” – 128.15” (100 mm – 3255 mm). Additionally, this precision boring tool can be adjusted without the aid of the readout. Its diameter can be set via a vernier scale in 0.0001” (0.002 mm) increments. This new tool offers an excellent price/performance ratio with extreme accuracy and strength in any industry. A simple analog version without 3E^TECH compatibility 538051 (537051) is also available.

External display compatible with all Wohlhaupter tools

The 3E^TECH display unit docks onto the tool and is activated via a pushbutton. It then shows the relative adjustment value of the tool in 0.0001” (0.002 mm) increments of the diameter to enable high-precision boring. Because the readout attaches externally and is not built-in, it can be used with all Wohlhaupter tools that are equipped with 3E^TECH sensor units. The external display is particularly suitable for tools having a small body diameter and for special tools with one or more adjustment units.

Detaches safely if spindle starts unintentionally

Built-in readouts can get damaged during the machining process, and magnetized solutions can be susceptible to data loss if the contact is broken. However, 3E^TECH provides the capability to store measured values in the tool itself to prevent data loss. The patent-pending interface between the digital readout and the tool ensures safe detachment in the event of an unintentional spindle start and protects the operator if the display is inadvertently left on the tool.

“The new Wohlhaupter 3E^TECH 538 (537) cassettes provide the ultimate combination of convenience and versatility—the perfect solution for your large diameter precision boring applications,” shared Natalie Wise, product manager.

About Allied Machine & Engineering:

Allied Machine & Engineering is a leading manufacturer of holemaking and finishing tooling systems. Allied devotes its advanced engineering and manufacturing capabilities to creating the widest selection of value-added tooling available to metal-cutting industries around the world. Our tooling solutions deliver the lowest cost per hole in a wide range of drilling, reaming, threading, boring, and burnishing applications.

Located in Dover, Ohio, Allied’s precision holemaking technologies provide end users worldwide with the highest level of drill performance. Precision engineering and expert application support make Allied the first and best choice for solving complex metal-cutting challenges.