TOOLING THE WHOLE PACKAGEX
bidirectional video and audio connection
between the customer’s machine operator/
production engineer and the technical support
team from Ceratizit. This ensures a reliable
service that can be activated within seconds
to ensure production continues to run
smoothly.
Wolter enthuses about the product, as he
says service, is and has always been a key
focus for Ceratizit and for WNT previously,
before the latter was fully integrated into the
Group, so this product ts perfectly with what
the company’s ethos is.
“My dream which will soon become a
reality is to have this 24/7 and that will be
the next step. We are using the UK as a test
market, but the end game will be 24/7
technical support - that would be wonderful,”
he says.
“That is what the end solution is and what
we are working on, but there are some things
we need to do. The fact we are doing it in the
UK rst, also shows the importance of the UK
market for us as it is eager to get this
technology.”
Digitalisation is at the core Ceratizit’s
strategy and ToolScope – a state-of-the-art
monitoring and control system which
continuously records signals generated during
the cutting process – is also growing in use
and an important part of the strategy
moving forward.
By visualising data,
ToolScope can be used to
monitor and adjust the
machine tool, delivering
measurable success,
providing improvements in
process security, cycle times
and tool life.
ToolScope can be integrated with
all types of machines and processes and
manufacturers can link the system on all
equipment operated on a factory shop- oor.
Processes can be optimised on machines
with adaptive feed controls, helping detect
any collisions, giving vital data to measure
and check processes are working ef ciently.
The different ToolScopes collect data
throughout a production factory.
“The advantage is you have every machine
and then use data throughout your factory
and you can use Toolscope data and put it in
the cloud. Then, we can help the customer.
By looking at the data we can look out how
the customer can improve machining
processes,” explains Wolter.
TURNING TECHNOLOGY
Another core part of the future for Ceratizit, is
its High Dynamic Turning (HDT) turning
technology and FreeTurn tool system. By
using the milling spindle in turn-mill centres,
the attack angle of the dynamic FreeTurn tool
can be adjusted 360° for optimal use in every
position of the workpiece.
This creates several opportunities. First,
exible machining of almost any workpiece
contour is possible. Also, chip breaking is
optimal, and it is possible to achieve higher
feed rates and tool life with maximum
stability.
“The HDT process and FreeTurn tools
really is a revolution to the market, as with
turning for decades, everything was constant
– and we really turned everything upside
down, so it takes time. It was not like a new
product you bring to the market and you just
sell,” explains Wolter.
Wolter says Ceratizit knew it would take
time to take-off, as it was bringing such an
innovation to the market, but the technology
is now gaining real traction in the
marketplace.
He believes Ceratizit introduced the
innovation at the right time, as
needed to get interest of the
machine tool builders and
CADCAM programmers to
keep the ball rolling into
the market, but now all
parts of the chain are onboard.
“When we introduced it, we had to make
people’s minds ready for this innovation and
we see it is coming more and more,” says
Wolter. “Machine tool builders like Mazak and
DMG Mori are jumping onboard, along with
CADCAM programmers and we are seeing
increased demand for the use of FreeTurn.”
CAM companies like GibbsCam and Open
Mind have invested into the programming and
are ready, with GibbsCam now able to supply
customers with a full post-processor
controlling multi-task machine and include all
machining operations including FreeTurn,
along with conventional turning. CNC maker
Heidenhain has also introduced at-the-control
programming for HDT and FreeTurn tools.
“The overall result is amazing and we now
for example – have a customer who is using
FreeTurn, and before had to use three
different tools in the conventional process,
but now does it with one FreeTurn tool. The
production time has been reduced from more
than ve minutes to two and a half minutes –
so it is 50 per cent faster from one tool,” he
enthuses.
“The next steps, is that we will have in the
UK for example, a Mazak machine that will be
with smooth AI controlled, or Mazak control,
as they have now included the FreeTurn
programming into their system to make sure
people can use the technology to its best.”
WELL POSITIONED
The machine tools industry will see a recovery
in 2021, how fast and at what rate is
By visualising data,
ToolScope can be used
to monitor and adjust the
machine tool, delivering
measurable success,
providing improvements
in process security, cycle
times and tool life
Insert: The LiveTechPro
app provides the platform
for Ceratizit’s technical
sales and applications
engineers to have their
eyes and ears there with
manufacturers
www.machinery.co.uk | MachineryMagazine | @MachineryTweets | February 2021 19
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