SGS End Mill Facility
Munroe Falls, Ohio – Round cutting tools maker SGS Tool Co. and tool holding technology firm Haimer GmbH now have a licensing agreement that allows SGS Tool to offer its round end mill cutting tools with the patented Haimer Safe-Lock system.
The Safe-Lock design in cutting tools and tool holders combines high precision shrink fit clamping with a positive form locking mechanism. This prevents round cutting tools from being rotated or completely pulled out from tool holders during heavy machining. The combination of a symmetrical locking tool design with high concentricity and excellent balance of the Safe-Lock system offers a vibration-free machining process. This leads to more efficient metal removal rates, superior to that of conventional milling chucks or Weldon side-lock tool holders.
The flute design of the SGS Z-Carb end mills offer greater potential metal removal rates compared to what had been available. This aggressive high helix, multi-flute design, however, could lead to a potential pull-out of the cutting tool during aggressive machining with high precision tool holding systems. Consequently, the team within the Innovation Center at SGS tested various tool holding systems to find a secure system. This research, along with customer feedback, led SGS Tool to partner with Haimer for the technology of its Safe-Lock system. David Byrley, vice president of Business Development explains: “In our testing we have clearly seen a comprehensive advantage of Safe-Lock in comparison to other systems.”
As a U.S.-based company, SGS saw increasing demand in the North American market to provide cutting tools with the Safe-Lock grooves on the shank. “The Safe-Lock design has been established as the global standard for anti-pull-out,” Byrley noted.
Brendt Holden, president of Haimer USA stated, “We are very pleased to have entered into this agreement with a company the caliber of SGS. The innovative flute geometries pioneered by SGS in our industry lend themselves perfectly for the Safe-Lock system. I am confident that the loyal SGS customer base will welcome this technology as a resource to be used to greatly increase their productivity on the shop floor.”
Since its launch in 2007, the Safe-Lock system has developed very successfully. Productivity increases resulting from the pull out protection is not restricted to typical aerospace applications, but the cost and time savings can also be used in any typical milling application.
Source: SGS Tool Co.