i-Smart End Mills - excellent flexibility by using copy milling coupling(2)

14 Dec 2022

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Product manager of round tools in EMEA

In part (1) of this article, we discussed the main differences between exchangeable drilling and milling tools. We also discussed the advantages of modular milling and where to find corresponding applications. (See: i-Smart End Mills - excellent flexibility by using copy milling coupling (1))

Using the market common coupling for customer advantage

As already said modular milling coupling design is challenging if the highest performance is the target. Many suppliers attempt to “lock-in” customers with their special coupling, forcing them to buy only their shanks and their tools. That is limiting customer flexibility and means that customers have to introduce another coupling type in their manufacturing environment requiring inventory investment and training.

i-Smart is different, it uses the shanks customers already have. Copy-Milling, Screw-On, Screw-In you name it. All these shanks have the same metric thread with a cylindrical portion for run-out optimization. Those M06 – M16 copy milling shanks are market common and can be procured from different sources. All Die and Mold customers have them on their shop floor in various sizes and lengths already.

Copy milling adaptors are used especially for indexable milling heads like APKT or in the case of YG-1, also our YG HF4 Mill ENMX high feed indexable milling tools. Standard and custom made i-Xmill cutters with internal coolant are available. Even some Fine Boring Systems are on the market having this coupling.

Beside the steel and carbide shanks in the cutting tools catalog matching shanks for i-Smart can be found in the systems tooling section (integral shanks) and also in the indexable tooling catalog. i-Smart cutting heads are just another option customers can choose from without getting hand-cuffed to one style of shank.

i-Smart is targeting Die & Mold

In Die &Mold flexibility is key as most die-sets are unique and not a mass-produced product. Having the option to use the same extensions and just exchange the front tip is very time and cost beneficial.

Regarding the cutting edge itself, 4G Mills and X5070 are the dominant YG-1 solutions for Die & Mold. Therefore, it is just logical that the entire i-Smart offering is a modular version of the leading 4G Mills geometries and coatings. Knowing 4G Mills, therefore, means knowing i-Smart. After roughing with indexable cutters, i-Smart should be used to get close to the finishing stage.

Last but not least

The assembly process just requires the components to be clean and have no gaps after tightening. There are torque Nm recommendations listed in the catalog, just like all other Screw-In tooling using this market’s common copy milling coupling. Training is therefore easy to conduct if at all necessary.

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