High speed thread without chips

The life of the tools is particularly high, a circumstance that is sought especially in mass production. Because of cold work hardening, high quality threads are created. Thread forming has several advantages over production processes, which involve machining. No swarf balls are created, therefore the problem of chip removal that often occurs in deep blind holes no longer occurs.

Solid carbide-thread formers are top-class, high end products. The development of new carbides benefits precisely this type of tool as well. The latest generation from the Walter group has therefore also benefited: the Protodyn? HSC. The performance advancement that was achieved led to the Tübingen-based tool manufacturer to give the thread former the suffix HSC and thus to include it in the HSC range, to which the solid carbide taps Paradur? HSC and Prototex? HSC already belong.

The new generation of solid carbide thread formers from the Walter group with the extended type designation Protodyn? HSC also provide a maximum cutting speed, or - more specifically - forming speed. The performance increase over the standard thread formers made of solid carbide is based on a new carbide substrate with excellent wear resistance and additional TiCN coating.

Additional features are an optimised, chamfer and friction reducing polygonal geometry. For deeper threads – up to 4xD is possible –special versions with axial internal coolant supply and outer lubrication grooves, identified by the addition of "S" are recommended. When equipped in this way, the Protodyn? (S) HSC provides cutting speeds that are twice as high as an HSS thread former.

As the main user for the new HSC tool, Walter is looking towards the automotive industry and similar sectors, where many threads have to be produced within a short space of time. The tools can be used for all metal materials that can be formed: typical examples are steel <1300N/mm2, stainless steel <1000N/mm2 and aluminium materials with an Si-content<12%. The tipless tool head enables the user to take full advantage of the cylindrical part of the core hole. Blind hole threads can be produced almost right to the bottom.

For more information, please visit www.walter-tools.com

Saudi car market

Industry analysts predict that by 2013, car sales in the Kingdom would hit 880,000 units a year, a 50% increase on 2008 levels. They say over three-quarters of all Saudi males of driving age are estimated to own one. Latest estimates have shown that on average, some 270,000 extra males would like to have their own vehicle in the next 10 years, so that by 2020, the Saudi market will still need around an extra 2.7 million vehicles.

"The Saudi market is continuing to expand as riNike Lebron 10