(l-r, front to back) Andreas Haimer, President Haimer Group; Colleen Cordova Vice President Industrial Marketing, Kennametal; John Jacko, Vice President and CMO, Kennametal; Carlos Cardoso, Chairman, President and CEO, Kennametal Inc; Brendt Holden, President Haimer USA. In an agreement signed May 9th, 2014, Kennametal Inc. and Haimer GmbH have agreed to a joint technology partnership and development cooperation for modular cutting tool systems.
The patented and trademark registered DUO-LOCK is a rigid and precise interface for modular tool systems.
During IMTS, Haimer and Kennametal presented a new portfolio of mono-block toolholders and extensions with DUO-LOCK technology in all relevant spindle interfaces.
In an agreement signed May 9th, 2014, Kennametal Inc. and Haimer GmbH agreed to a joint technology partnership and development cooperation for modular cutting tool systems. The agreement involves a significant cross license model and a long-term partnership.
For the very first time at IMTS 2014, both companies together introduced the new modular interface DUO-LOCK for carbide cutting tool heads. The companies combined their toolholding and carbide knowledge to provide technology for high performance milling applications with a modular system. Like SAFE-LOCK, the DUO-LOCK system will be offered as a license to cutting tool companies to establish a compatible, high-performance modular endmill system.
According to the company, for the past few years, the cost of carbide has been consistently increasing. Following this trend, Haimer and Kennametal have developed DUO-LOCK. "The current existing modular tool systems have their weakness in the interface. Due to this fact the full potential of the cutting heads can't be used because of tool breakage," said Oliver Sax, Director Product Management at Haimer. Colleen Cordova Vice President Industrial Marketing at Kennametal said, "Haimer and Kennametal have been able to create a modular interface based on maximum stability that allows the user to make full use of the carbide tool potential."
The DUO-LOCK technology provides stability, load capacity and high runout precision based on a thread design with a proprietary double cone connection and an additional third supporting area in the back of the interface.
During IMTS both companies introduced a new portfolio of cutting heads and mono-block screw fit toolholders with DUO-LOCK technology in all relevant spindle interfaces and extensions. Also new modular cutting tool heads with longer length will be added to their product portfolio in order to take aggressive cuts also in the aerospace and energy industry.
"The system guarantees 5 um runout accuracy and a Z accuracy of 10 um which will eliminate most of the expensive presetting processes. The features of the DUO-LOCK technology will provide significantly increased metal removal rates at milling applications and longer tool life. For the first time a modular milling system can achieve similar high performance of a latest generation solid carbide endmill," said Doug Ewald, Director Product Management System Tooling at Kennametal.
According to the company, the DUO-LOCK system has proven milling performance of 1.5 times diameter depth of cut and widens the application of modular milling systems compared with current competitive systems. As a result, productivity advantage in terms of metal removal rate can be achieved.
"In contrast to other systems in the market both companies do not want to limit the DUO-LOCK system to Haimer and Kennametal only. The partners are currently in discussions with additional leading cutting tool companies to offer customers multiple sources of different manufacturers with one compatible interface," said a company spokesperson.
For more information contact:
Haimer USA
134 E. Hill Street
Villa Park, IL 60181
630-833-1500
haimer@haimer-usa.com
www.haimer-usa.com
Kennametal Inc.
P.O. Box 231
1600 Technology Way
Latrobe, PA 15650
724-539-5000
www.kennametal.com