Another Big Story the Mainstream Media Missed: GE-Krupp Conspiracy Trial of

- TR6 TNMT 1004 single-sided insert with three cutting edges for 90-degree shoulder and face milling.

The necessity for this approach comes predominately from customers according to Dave Magnall, innovation partnership manager, at Seco Tools (UK) who is part of the team driving this new initiative.

The foundations for this collaborative approach to be not only a cutting tool supplier, but also a combined consultancy service has been built from Seco’s experience staging its Inspiration Through Innovation (ITI) event each year.

“People ask is this sort of work not being done by the likes of the AMRC or MTC already, but we are coming at it from a much higher Technology Readiness Level (TRL),” Magnall explains. “These are improvements that customers can implement the next day or the next month rather than 5-10 years down the line on projects that need solving immediately. We are much closer to manufacturing subcontractors so what we do complements the type of R&D that they do.”

This year’s Inspiration Through Innovation, being held on 9-10 October, in many ways encapsulates the Innovation Hub concept by focusing on one sector (aerospace) rather than the broader precision engineering supply chain.

- TR6 TNCU/MU 1004 double-sided insert with six round cutting edges, available in 0.5- to 3.0-mm corner radii.

Fleming concludes: “Our ultimate aim is to create a space where like-minded people can come together to work on projects permanently that benefit the whole industry. It means we all work towards the same goal, which is how we can make the process more efficient for the customer. If we can develop tooling, machine tools, workholding, lubricant and software solutions that work in harmony then this becomes a unique offer and we can achieve some truly game-changing developments and opportunities.”

“For ITI this year we felt it was natural that we focus on aerospace,” Fleming says. “Every machining demonstration will be a component related to the sector. For example, we have projects featuring turbine blisk and disc manufacturing from difficult-to-machine materials, such as Titanium, Inconel and Heat Resistant Super Alloys (HRSAs). We have chosen parts, materials and processes that we think are most applicable and worked with partners who we felt could make the best contribution to those demonstrations. They are all aerospace parts being made by the best technology available, so customers can see the ideal solution.”

This new initiative is a substantial change of direction for the cutting tool supplier. Although design, development and pricing of custom tools will remain at its UK headquarters, production of such tools has been transferred to France. This is so machining and factory resources once employed for cutting tool manufacturing can be applied to solving new projects where customers need substantial efficiency improvements for components manufactured in the supply chain.

“Industry 4.0 is a bit of a buzzword, but there is an issue in the industry about integration when it comes to the use of data. Unless we all share and utilise it effectively, we won’t get the full value from it,” states Magnall.

In a significant move to streamline mechanical testing and enhance material insights, Airbus is collaborating with Plastometrex to support the standardisation of PIP (Profilometry-based Indentation Plastometry) – the innovative mechanical testing technique developed and commercialised by the Cambridge-based technology provider.

Of course, to achieve those kinds of advances Seco’s partners have to buy in to this concept of collaboration, so what has been their response?

The inserts are produced from the company’s Sumotec carbide grades and are available in numerous cutting geometries, including:

Seco technician apprentice, Emma Roberts pictured holding a newly machined Inspiration through Innovation event brand identity

Alongside the machining demonstrations there will be a number of seminars delivered by recognised industry-experts related to the projects demonstrated on the shopfloor.

Seco Tools is adopting a new approach that solves customers’ machining challenges through an integrated and holistic process with its partners. Ed Hill visited its UK headquarters to find out more.   As the old saying goes ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’ and this idea seems to be one that Seco Tools (UK) is embracing enthusiastically when it comes to meeting the demands of advanced engineering and manufacturing industries – particularly in the aerospace and medical sectors. At the cutting tool manufacturer’s UK facility in Alcester, Warwickshire, the company is creating what it describes as an ‘Innovation Hub’ that not only draws on its own engineering know-how and resources, but is also opening its doors to encourage other industry stakeholders to work together to solve customers’ engineering and process challenges. This new initiative is a substantial change of direction for the cutting tool supplier. Although design, development and pricing of custom tools will remain at its UK headquarters, production of such tools has been transferred to France. This is so machining and factory resources once employed for cutting tool manufacturing can be applied to solving new projects where customers need substantial efficiency improvements for components manufactured in the supply chain. Mike Fleming, strategic marketing, products & services manager, Seco Tools Mike Fleming, strategic marketing, products and services manager, at Seco Tools (UK) explains: “We are creating an environment where we and our partners can come together to collaborate on best-in-class machining processes and also on R&D, training and education. We want the Innovation Hub to be a co-owned environment where our partners are equal members in this venture. Like us they can access the facilities whenever they need, so we all work together using our particular knowledge and strengths to ultimately benefit our customers.” The necessity for this approach comes predominately from customers according to Dave Magnall, innovation partnership manager, at Seco Tools (UK) who is part of the team driving this new initiative. “In many ways we are responding to industry demands,” he says. “Many OEMs don’t want small incremental improvements of 10-20% to production from their suppliers anymore, they want improvements of 50, even 70%. With the best will in the world you can’t get a 70% process improvement just by redesigning a cutting tool. You have to draw on a network of partnerships made up of CAD/CAM developers, machine tool builders, coolant suppliers, workholding and metrology specialists to work together to solve a customer’s problem.” The foundations for this collaborative approach to be not only a cutting tool supplier, but also a combined consultancy service has been built from Seco’s experience staging its Inspiration Through Innovation (ITI) event each year. Launched in 2014 as an alternative to the traditional open house, the two-day gathering is not only a showcase for Seco’s cutting tools but also brings together machine tool manufacturers, workholding, metrology, CAD/CAM and coolant companies, along with machining demonstrations, talks and seminars, to offer visitors industry insights, best practice and networking benefits. Spotlight on aerospace This year’s Inspiration Through Innovation, being held on 9-10 October, in many ways encapsulates the Innovation Hub concept by focusing on one sector (aerospace) rather than the broader precision engineering supply chain. Seco has chosen aerospace not only because this is a sector where it has extensive experience and sales, but also because it is a high-end engineering industry that faces large order backlogs and significant operational and economic pressures meaning suppliers have to substantially increase production speeds and reduce manufacturing costs. Seco technician apprentice, Emma Roberts pictured holding a newly machined Inspiration through Innovation event brand identity The industry is also adopting disruptive manufacturing technologies such as, digitalisation (Industry 4.0), advanced alloy and composite material processing and additive manufacturing, and having to tackle environmental concerns, resulting in the hunt for more fuel-efficient aircraft and ecological power sources such as electrification. “For ITI this year we felt it was natural that we focus on aerospace,” Fleming says. “Every machining demonstration will be a component related to the sector. For example, we have projects featuring turbine blisk and disc manufacturing from difficult-to-machine materials, such as Titanium, Inconel and Heat Resistant Super Alloys (HRSAs). We have chosen parts, materials and processes that we think are most applicable and worked with partners who we felt could make the best contribution to those demonstrations. They are all aerospace parts being made by the best technology available, so customers can see the ideal solution.” Some of the other demos include: turbine blade repair using additive and subtractive processes, machining a A350 fuel connector, a titanium structural part, an aero-engine combustion chamber and machining carbon fibre (CFRP) seat parts using robotics. Around 30 technical partners will be taking part including well-known machine tool brands – with their machines working on site, CAD/CAM and metrology experts, as well as workholding and cutting fluid suppliers. “It’s a live event so machining will be going on all the time,” adds Fleming. “Of course, we bear a lot of the cost but we also expect our partners to invest in the event too and encourage them to invite their customers along. We want our partners to benefit from seeing our customers and other partners’ customers so we all contribute in some way and feel we have benefitted from it.” Talking the talk Alongside the machining demonstrations there will be a number of seminars delivered by recognised industry-experts related to the projects demonstrated on the shopfloor. These include presentations from: Rolls-Royce on manufacturing turbines; Siemens on material solutions and additive manufacturing; the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) on blisk demand; Renishaw on Industry 4.0 and utilising machining and metrology data. “Industry 4.0 is a bit of a buzzword, but there is an issue in the industry about integration when it comes to the use of data. Unless we all share and utilise it effectively, we won’t get the full value from it,” states Magnall. Inspiration Through Innovation will also be a far more international event with attendees expected not just from the UK but also Europe, Asia and the US. And the collaboration that epitomises ITI is intended to be the springboard for the Innovation Hub and year-round collaboration with Seco’s partners to offer practical and production ready manufacturing solutions. “People ask is this sort of work not being done by the likes of the AMRC or MTC already, but we are coming at it from a much higher Technology Readiness Level (TRL),” Magnall explains. “These are improvements that customers can implement the next day or the next month rather than 5-10 years down the line on projects that need solving immediately. We are much closer to manufacturing subcontractors so what we do complements the type of R&D that they do.” In fact, Inspiration Through Innovation and the Innovation Hub are all part of an ongoing commitment that Seco calls its T50 pledge. This aims to reduce customers’ costs or process times by 50% and to use innovative technologies and training to achieve it. One of the machining demonstrations taking place at Inspiration through Innovation 2019 involves the machining of an aero-engine disc, achieving a 50% cycle time reduction Of course, to achieve those kinds of advances Seco’s partners have to buy in to this concept of collaboration, so what has been their response? “The technical partners get it right away because they are of a similar mind,” Magnall asserts. “We soon know which companies buy into the idea because they are the ones that start to push us too and are happy to invest either money or equipment.” Essentially, the Innovation Hub and its related initiatives, is about garnering skills and generating new revenue streams that benefit everyone involved, and solve customers’ technical challenges. Fleming concludes: “Our ultimate aim is to create a space where like-minded people can come together to work on projects permanently that benefit the whole industry. It means we all work towards the same goal, which is how we can make the process more efficient for the customer. If we can develop tooling, machine tools, workholding, lubricant and software solutions that work in harmony then this becomes a unique offer and we can achieve some truly game-changing developments and opportunities.” To register for Inspiration Through Innovation visit www.secotools.com/iti2019 www.secotools.com

Some of the other demos include: turbine blade repair using additive and subtractive processes, machining a A350 fuel connector, a titanium structural part, an aero-engine combustion chamber and machining carbon fibre (CFRP) seat parts using robotics.

As the old saying goes ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’ and this idea seems to be one that Seco Tools (UK) is embracing enthusiastically when it comes to meeting the demands of advanced engineering and manufacturing industries – particularly in the aerospace and medical sectors.

Seco has chosen aerospace not only because this is a sector where it has extensive experience and sales, but also because it is a high-end engineering industry that faces large order backlogs and significant operational and economic pressures meaning suppliers have to substantially increase production speeds and reduce manufacturing costs.

The next Southern Manufacturing & Electronics show will take place from 4th to 6th February 2025 at the Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre.

One of the machining demonstrations taking place at Inspiration through Innovation 2019 involves the machining of an aero-engine disc, achieving a 50% cycle time reduction

- TR45 TNMT 1004 single-sided insert with three 45-degree cutting edges for general use and for face and chamfer milling.

Tooling manufacturer, Horn has introduced a new carbide insert grade, SG66, for turning components from steel that has been case hardened to 58 HRC.

“It’s a live event so machining will be going on all the time,” adds Fleming. “Of course, we bear a lot of the cost but we also expect our partners to invest in the event too and encourage them to invite their customers along. We want our partners to benefit from seeing our customers and other partners’ customers so we all contribute in some way and feel we have benefitted from it.”

Around 30 technical partners will be taking part including well-known machine tool brands – with their machines working on site, CAD/CAM and metrology experts, as well as workholding and cutting fluid suppliers.

The industry is also adopting disruptive manufacturing technologies such as, digitalisation (Industry 4.0), advanced alloy and composite material processing and additive manufacturing, and having to tackle environmental concerns, resulting in the hunt for more fuel-efficient aircraft and ecological power sources such as electrification.

Keep up to date with the latest news, events, and technology for all things metal from our pair of monthly magazines written specifically for Canadian manufacturers!

At the cutting tool manufacturer’s UK facility in Alcester, Warwickshire, the company is creating what it describes as an ‘Innovation Hub’ that not only draws on its own engineering know-how and resources, but is also opening its doors to encourage other industry stakeholders to work together to solve customers’ engineering and process challenges.

Iscar has released the Tor6Mill milling cutters and inserts, which are suitable for applications in the die and mould, turbine blade, and general engineering industries.

The tool diameter does not change because all insert corner radii are designed to enable undercutting. They feature coolant holes directed to every cutting edge, and the cutter body includes a protective, polished coating for uninterrupted chip flow and protection from corrosion and wear.

As the Advanced Engineering show approaches, there are fresh announcements of cutting-edge technologies and products to be showcased at the upcoming event at the NEC in Birmingham on October 30 and 31. As a result, this year’s exhibition is shaping up to be a must-attend for engineering and manufacturing professionals, offering a glimpse into the f...

The cutters are available in three configurations: TR6 ER endmills in a diameters of 16 to 32 mm; TR6 ER-M interchangeable milling heads with FlexFit adaptation in a diameters of 20 to 42 mm; and TR6 FR face mills in 52, 66, and 80 mm dia.

Seco Tools is adopting a new approach that solves customers’ machining challenges through an integrated and holistic process with its partners. Ed Hill visited its UK headquarters to find out more.

- TR6 TNCU/MU 0702 double-sided, ground inserts with six cutting edges, available with 0.5-, 1.0-, and 1.5-mm corner radii.

Mike Fleming, strategic marketing, products and services manager, at Seco Tools (UK) explains: “We are creating an environment where we and our partners can come together to collaborate on best-in-class machining processes and also on R&D, training and education. We want the Innovation Hub to be a co-owned environment where our partners are equal members in this venture. Like us they can access the facilities whenever they need, so we all work together using our particular knowledge and strengths to ultimately benefit our customers.”

Inspiration Through Innovation will also be a far more international event with attendees expected not just from the UK but also Europe, Asia and the US. And the collaboration that epitomises ITI is intended to be the springboard for the Innovation Hub and year-round collaboration with Seco’s partners to offer practical and production ready manufacturing solutions.

Launched in 2014 as an alternative to the traditional open house, the two-day gathering is not only a showcase for Seco’s cutting tools but also brings together machine tool manufacturers, workholding, metrology, CAD/CAM and coolant companies, along with machining demonstrations, talks and seminars, to offer visitors industry insights, best practice and networking benefits.

These include presentations from: Rolls-Royce on manufacturing turbines; Siemens on material solutions and additive manufacturing; the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) on blisk demand; Renishaw on Industry 4.0 and utilising machining and metrology data.

“The technical partners get it right away because they are of a similar mind,” Magnall asserts. “We soon know which companies buy into the idea because they are the ones that start to push us too and are happy to invest either money or equipment.”

Easily access valuable industry resources now with full access to the digital edition of Canadian Fabricating & Welding.

Essentially, the Innovation Hub and its related initiatives, is about garnering skills and generating new revenue streams that benefit everyone involved, and solve customers’ technical challenges.

The NeoMill-Alu-QBig indexable insert milling cutter from Mapal stands for top performance in high-volume milling of aluminium. The tool manufacturer thus offers a very economical solution for use on high-performance machines, such as those found primarily in the aerospace industry.

“In many ways we are responding to industry demands,” he says. “Many OEMs don’t want small incremental improvements of 10-20% to production from their suppliers anymore, they want improvements of 50, even 70%. With the best will in the world you can’t get a 70% process improvement just by redesigning a cutting tool. You have to draw on a network of partnerships made up of CAD/CAM developers, machine tool builders, coolant suppliers, workholding and metrology specialists to work together to solve a customer’s problem.”

Walter has now launched its new X·treme Evo Plus drill from the DC180 Supreme product family that is now available up to 8XD for the first time.

In fact, Inspiration Through Innovation and the Innovation Hub are all part of an ongoing commitment that Seco calls its T50 pledge. This aims to reduce customers’ costs or process times by 50% and to use innovative technologies and training to achieve it.

Easily access valuable industry resources now with full access to the digital edition of Canadian Metalworking.

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