EMO: LMT demonstrates innovative tools for machining composites
The machining of modern composite materials poses completely new challenges for cutting tools when it comes to preventing fibre pull-outs, protrusions and delamination. Users therefore have to take extra care in choosing their tools: at booth E54 in hall 4 at EMO 2011, the precision tool specialists from LMT are using a wide range of innovative products to demonstrate that those crucial refinements which ensure better component quality and productivity in manufacturing composite components can only be made accessible with specialist knowledge of materials and processes.
- DFC Compression Mill
New materials are also at the heart of the joint initiative that brings together LMT Belin and LMT Onsrud. Under the name "Composite Excellence", the experts are pooling over 50 years of experience of machining composite materials. In addition to its expertise developed over many years of working with leading companies, LMT offers the widest range of tools on the market for all applications in the field of composite machining. Appropriately, the new product catalogue for the Composites & Plastics Machining segment is being unveiled at EMO and Composites Europe. Particular emphasis has been placed on making the catalogue easy to use: users can find the optimal LMT tool based on the specific application and the materials being used.
Here is a summary of the LMT highlights in the field of composite machining:
DFC compression mill from LMT Onsrud: LMT Onsrud has developed this diamond-coated solid carbide compression mill specially for high-speed milling of composite materials. With its rotation in opposite directions it prevents delamination and unclean cut edges in surface layers. It is therefore particularly suitable for machining carbon fibre laminates.
CFRP drill with “W point”: This tool offers advantages in areas where a two-stage process of pre-drilling and final drilling has previously been necessary to avoid the risk of delamination and fibre pull-outs. With the “W point” drill, the customer can save on one of these operations and thus significantly reduce processing time and unit costs.
Range of products for milling Kevlar: In contrast to carbon fibres, Kevlar and aramid fibres require tool geometry that provides a greater shear effect because of their very high toughness. The success of LMT Belin’s mill geometry, which is specially designed for Kevlar and aramid fibre reinforced composite materials, is based on the principle of rotation in opposite directions.
PCD compression mill from LMT BELIN: The optimal solution for reliable trimming of carbon-fibre composite components without delamination or fibre pull-outs – this LMT tool has soldered PCD cutters and chip chambers that are as large as possible. These features provide faster feeding, high quality even in rough machining and a significantly higher rate of material removal in comparison to carbide tools. Immersion and groove cutting are also possible with these tools.
Composite Excellence with KraussMaffei live on the internet: If you can’t make it to Hanover, you can experience Composite Excellence with LMT Tools live on the internet. From 19 to 23 September, selected highlights will be broadcast live from the KraussMaffei technical centre in Munich at http://www.lmt.e-convention.net/.