Hybrid Steel-Composite Milling Tool

Carbon-bodied milling tools up to 40% lighter, with more damping for stability, longer tool life and better finish.

Milling tools with carbon composite bodies:
• Up to 40% lower mass
• Less high-frequency noise
• Lower energy use
• Greater machining stability, accuracy and speed
• Longer tool life
• Better surface finish

Reducing the weight of milling tools, especially large ones, matters when payload limits the machine tool or automatic tool changer. It also lets smaller milling centres take on a wider range of operations.

The low weight and high stiffness of carbon fibre raise the natural frequency of the tool, while the damping of the composite reduces unwanted vibration during cutting, so the tool runs more stably. Testing has also shown significantly lower tool wear.

Across a range of tool types and applications, tests have shown faster and more accurate machining or better surface finish, and in some cases a part can be produced in fewer machining steps.