Since the advent of modern metal cutting, tools have traditionally been manufactured from solid steel and ground to shape. However, starting in the 1950s, indexable carbide inserts brought about a revolutionary change. Yet, in the specific area of Gear cutting—particularly hobbing—the solid high-speed steel (HSS) hob remains the dominant choice today. Despite its maturity, the inherent limitations of the solid HSS hob have restricted its progress. These tools require regular resharpening and recoating, which adds significant logistical challenges. When a production manager considers purchasing a hob, they cannot simply buy one HSS hob. In practice, maintaining continuous machine operation often necessitates having multiple hobs on hand: one for cutting, another being sharpened, one undergoing recoating, and yet another being measured in the tool room. This creates a complex cycle involving numerous tools at various stages of maintenance. In contrast, indexable insert tools eliminate most of these maintenance processes. With just two milling cutters, production can run uninterrupted: one in use and the other being indexed or replaced and preset. This simplifies operations and reduces downtime significantly. Another critical issue lies in the use of coolant. Solid HSS tools typically require coolant, usually cutting oil, to prevent overheating, whereas carbide tools perform exceptionally well at high temperatures. Avoiding coolant brings numerous advantages. Manufacturers can save on the costs of purchasing, storing, and disposing of coolant, while creating cleaner, healthier, and more environmentally friendly workplaces. This shift is highly appealing to companies prioritizing sustainability and employee well-being. The intrinsic properties of solid carbide enable the use of higher cutting parameters and extended tool life, directly boosting productivity. This increased efficiency allows manufacturers to either ramp up production as needed or reduce equipment usage when fewer machines are required to meet output targets. The latter benefit translates into significant savings on capital expenditures when acquiring new tooling equipment. Sandvik Coromant’s recent advancements in indexable insert hobbing technology have yielded substantial benefits for this specialized machining sector. The new CoroMill 176 concept, featuring carbide inserts optimized for steel processing, provides the ideal tool to leverage today’s robust and high-powered hobbing machinery. It is widely acknowledged that solid tools are generally more precise than their indexable counterparts. While high-quality HSS hobs can meet these expectations, worn tools lose accuracy unless resharpened and recoated. Indexable inserts, however, require only indexing or replacement, and as long as the blade-clamping system is reliable, accuracy remains unaffected. A key feature of this new concept is its iLock blade interface. This clamping system includes blades, wedges, and bolts (one per seat) for quick and easy use. After extensive testing, one customer reported reducing blade replacement time to just seven seconds per blade. For tools with up to 100 inserts, this advantage becomes evident. A guide rail on the support surface ensures blade stability, preventing lateral movement and ensuring precision and repeatable positioning. On a broader scale, this new hobbing concept reflects a macro-level technical shift from traditional solid tools to more efficient and economical indexable insert solutions. Modern machines are particularly suited for indexable carbide hobs. Case Study: Piece: Spline Shaft Gear Parameters: HSS vs. CoroMill 176 Savings: 180 minutes per workpiece A new indexable carbide hob concept presents a cost-effective alternative to HSS hobs. By replacing solid tools with indexable ones, manufacturers can drastically reduce associated maintenance operations. The new hob is user-friendly, featuring high cutting parameters, which translates to a significant boost in productivity. With its innovative design and operational simplicity, the CoroMill 176 is poised to redefine hobbing efficiency. Knitting Machine Rolling Takedown System Knitting Machine Rolling Takedown System,Knitting Winding System,Take Down Rolling System,Takedown Unit For Circular Knitting Machine Changzhou Longfu Knitting Co., Ltd. , http://www.circularmachine.com
