Going for gold with a new technology platform: WALTER AG

By Niraj M Wanikar, Chief Editor, CNCTimes.com, 2017-09-19 10:56:00

Exhibiting at EMO HANNOVER 2017, metalworking specialist Walter is one of the first companies in the world to present a new technology platform for coated indexable inserts based on CVD-titanium aluminum nitride (TiAlN) - Tiger•tec® Gold.

Through its latest innovation, Tiger•tec® Gold, Walter AG aims to deliver cutting properties that are much better than those possible with standard cutting materials and thus significantly extend tool service life and support enhanced process reliability and optimized productivity. The machining sector has been working with CVD coatings based on titanium carbo-nitride (TiCN) and aluminum oxide (Al2O3) for around two decades, but has recently hit a wall when it comes to improving the properties of these coatings. In fact, there is virtually no technical scope to further enhance the various grades of aluminum oxide in use.

That prompted the experts at Walter to embark on the development of a new generation of cutting material for coating indexable inserts. The end result of their work is now on show at EMO Hannover 2017. Tiger•tec® Gold is a completely new technological platform based on titanium aluminum nitride (TiAlN). The coating, which is extremely hard and exhibits high residual compressive stress, is claimed to be particularly suitable for milling steel and cast iron materials at medium to high machining speeds. The application engineers at Walter have been using the new WKP35G grade of Tiger•tec® Gold in special applications for some time. According to Jörg Drobniewski, head of cutting tool material development at Walter AG, the company has worked on around 50 customer applications since the spring. The results have by all accounts been impressive, showing significantly improved layer properties. According to Walter, the indexable inserts coated with Tiger•tec® Gold WKP35G demonstrated significantly enhanced wear resistance on flank faces, fewer hairline cracks and improved resistance to plastic deformation. However, it is the tool life achieved during the practical tests that is said to be most impressive - at around 80 percent longer on average.

Walter has something else truly special on offer at EMO Hannover 2017 - Speaker's Corner. Visitors here from all over the world can experience live images beamed directly from the factory of the future, with Walter experts and guest speakers giving exceptional insights and outlooks regarding the latest developments in tool innovations, Industry 4.0 and digital transformation.

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