Efficient machining of titanium

Horn is optimising its DS milling system to enable productive, cost-effective machining of titanium and titanium alloys. The optimisations are made possible by the newly developed substrate IG3I. By combining the novel carbide grade with a newcoating, the tool specialist has been able to increase tool life significantly. Furthermore, the new substrate demonstrates homogeneous wear. A sharp micro-geometry on the cutting edges, positive rake angles, large clearance angles and polished flutes prevent strain hardening of the workpiece and built-up edges on the rake faces when machining titanium. Variable helix angles and different tooth pitches ensure a quiet, low-vibration milling process. Despite the sharp cutting edges, the new coating demonstrates very high layer adhesion, thus ensuring good cutting edge stability. Thanks to its high temperature resistance, the coating serves as a heat shield and reduces the amount of heat transferred to the carbide.

In future, the IG3I substrate will replace the previous substrate TSTK, which is already known on the market for its high performance. The end mills are available in diameters from 2 mm to 20 mm as standard, with four or five flutes. The effective length is two or three times the diameter. DS titanium milling cutters were developed based on the tried-and-tested solid carbide milling cutters in the DS system, which for years have been used to machine soft and hardened steels, chromium-nickel steels and superalloys as well as copper, aluminium, plastics and fibre-reinforced plastics.