Full range at MACH from Floyd

MACH 2024 will once again provide an opportunity for Floyd Automatic Tooling to demonstrate why it is the industry authority on cutting tools and machining solutions for the sliding head turning and the small part machining industry. On Stand 489 in Hall 20, the Baldock-based company will present an expansive range of innovations, many of which will be receiving their MACH exhibition premieres. 

As always, the longstanding partnerships that Floyd has with leading machine tool manufacturers will enable engineers to witness the latest cutting tools undertaking live demonstrations on the stands of leading sliding head lathe brands and many other machine tool partners. The partnerships that Floyd Automatic has with the leading cutting tool brands for this niche segment include MASA Microconics, Mikron Tool, Madaula, Schaublin, Ifanger, Schwanog, Applitec, Alesa and many others. Mikron Tool will have Ivano Bernasconi available for the duration of MACH, as the manufacturer is sponsoring a specific area of the Floyd stand with an extensive range of Mikron products on display. 

Some of the new products from Mikron Tool will include the exciting new CrazyMill Cool Micro series of micro end mills for micromachining applications in the electronics, medical, optics, automotive, aerospace and defence sectors. Perfect for operations as diverse as side milling, helical interpolation, slot milling and drilling, the CrazyMill Cool Micro is available with 3 or 4 flute options with diameters from 0.2 to 1mm with effective cutting lengths of 3XD and 5XD. 

To continue the theme of micro machining, Floyd will introduce the Madaula driven tools for sliding head machines. Part of the extensive range of Madaula products at MACH will be the mechanical spindle speeder that works on a 1:4 ratio to provide machines with higher torque and spindle speeds up to 24,000rpm. Perfect for micro machining, improving surface finishes and increasing productivity rates, the new system is compatible with all leading brands of turning centres. 

To machine at the precision levels required for micro-machining, manufacturers require industry-leading clamping systems. At MACH, Floyd will present the latest MASA Microconic workholding systems. Matt Saccomanno from MASA will be at MACH presenting the products. The Masa Microconic system is for holding workpieces from 0.15mm to 10mm diameter in any machine that has a collet-type chuck. The system consists of two major components, the Microconic cartridge that replaces the standard 5C, TF15, TF16, TF20, TF25 or TF37 collets, and the Microconic collet. 

Also appearing at MACH will be the new geometry Ifanger boring inserts for lead-free brass that have been developed for manufacturers that witness the scourge of stringy swarf when using small boring tools to machine materials such as unleaded brass or aluminium. The Ifanger MicroTurn internal boring tool system removes the swarf to prevent re-cutting. The new Ifanger MicroTurn is available in two different types – the MicroTurn MTEP for rough internal turning and boring and the MicroTurn MTEF for finishing operations. 

Many customers of Floyd Automatic will be familiar with Applitec’s TOP-Line twin screw insert program, which is the industry’s top-performing solution. There is no better compliment than to ‘copy’ the best, and therefore many competitors have now introduced their interpretation of the Applitec TOP-Line.

The exciting new PRO-Line is Applitec’s response to the arrival of competitor systems. Once again, Applitec has taken innovation to a new level with a solution that offers a lower-cost insert with the same Applitec quality – the recently launched TOP-Line range of PCD inserts. The new 730/740 series of PCD inserts have been introduced for the machining of non-ferrous materials like lead-free brass and aluminium. 

Concerning form tools solutions, Floyd will present the latest product lines from Schwanog. The machining of complex forms can be a significant challenge for manufacturers, but luckily, Floyd Automatic can now provide remarkably precise form tools for even the most challenging of materials. 

The scope for the Schwanog form tools extends way beyond ‘cut-off’ tools and the series is suitable for external and internal turning, grooving and much more. Regarding external turning, grooving has emerged as a more efficient solution compared to single-point turning for almost all machine types in numerous industries. For example, the Schwanog system can be created with OD grooving tools, OD grooving tools for Escomatic and rotary transfer machines, shaving tools, skiving tools, modular MSIK systems and DCI Swiss-type grooving systems.