The drive to succeed

Multitasking and mill-turn centres were once considered high-end specialty machines, found only in shops with the financial resources and production volumes needed to justify such an investment. However this is no longer the case, turning centres with live tool stations are becoming increasingly popular with machine shops of all sizes. These machines offer the ability to cost effectively machine parts in a single operation.

With capability comes complexity, however, and the need to maximise the output of such a machine tool investment through reduced setup time is ever present. The KM (Kennametal Modular) quick-change tooling tries to meet these needs, and has recently announced a substantial expansion of that offering, one that promises to make driven tool setup fast and accurate.

“The partnership between Kennametal and EWS Tool Technologies is aimed at maximising our customers´ productivity by providing the best tooling solution and support for their CNC lathes,” said Jay Verellen, Director of Global Product Management, Tooling Systems. “The KM quick change connection is one of the most comprehensive in the industry. Together with EWS´ global leadership in driven tooling and static tool blocks, we will provide a standard range ready to tool up many major brands of CNC turning centres with this incredible system.”

It´s more than a large selection of lathe tooling, though, anyone who´s owned or operated a live-tool lathe knows the importance of service after the sale. Metal becomes fatigued, bearings eventually fail, and operators make mistakes. Sending live tools and tool blocks overseas for reconditioning is a costly, time-consuming affair, one that shop owners can ill afford.

“You don't have to wait two weeks for a worn tool to arrive in Germany,” said Bahti Hanedar, Chief Financial Officer at Command Tooling Systems, a wholly-owned subsidiary of EWS. “For those in the US, the tools are serviced here using original OEM parts, by factory trained personnel. EWS also has manufacturing locations in Korea, China, and Russia, so no matter where your shop is located, service is never more than a day away. At EWS, global presence is more than a logo.”

Quick response applies to custom tooling as well. There´s no need to worry about time zones to get a rush quote on a non-standard gage length tool holder, or a 45° angle head able to spin at 15,000 rpm. Hanedar said: “We have the capability for quick turnaround of custom solutions in the US and elsewhere, and are making significant engineering and service investments at all locations.”

Verellen added: “For our customers we are making it really easy, one call into our service centres and we´ll take care of everything else.”