Kyocera SGS to launch free regrind service, Tool4Life, at Advanced Engineering

On stand L40 at the Advanced Engineering Show taking place at the NEC, Birmingham, on 2^nd and 3^rd November, Kyocera SGS will launch a new service called Tool4Life that includes two replacements for worn tooling at no extra cost.  The service will be offered with the company’s Z-Carb HPR high-performance end mills of 10 mm diameter or above.
 
With Tool4Life, when the tool becomes worn, the customer returns it to Kyocera SGS’s Technical Centre in Wokingham to be reground and recoated free of charge, provided that it is not irreparably damaged.  To maintain continuity of production, a replacement is supplied for the worn tool within 24 hours.  When that replacement tool becomes worn, it is returned to Kyocera SGS and the original tool that has been reconditioned is sent back to the customer.  Again, the exchange is completed within 24 hours.
 
The Tool4Life service has been trialled with a number of Kyocera SGS customers since the summer and has received a very positive response.  “Our customers appreciate the extra value they get from our tools with Tool4Life,” stated Alan Pearce, the company’s Managing Director for Europe.  “They also value receiving replacement cutters within 24 hours so there is minimal effect on production.  We believe that our Tool4Life initiative is unique in the metal-cutting sector.”
 
SGS, which was acquired by Kyocera earlier this year, has specialised for many years in producing solid carbide rotary cutting tools for customers that have to machine difficult materials in the aerospace, medical, offshore and other industries.  The Z-Carb HPR solid carbide range of end mills is designed for roughing titanium and nickel alloys, cast irons and steel alloys, including stainless grades.
 
The five-flute design of the Z-Carb HPR range offers increased productivity over three- and four-flute end mills by giving higher material-removal rates and superior surface finish.  In addition, the variable-indexing geometry reduces chatter when compared with symmetrical designs.  As a result, a surface finish of 0.8 Ra or better is normally achieved, even during aggressive roughing.
 
Customers can choose between two multi-layer, wear-resistant coatings.  Ti-Namite-M offers high wear resistance, reduced friction and excellent prevention of cutting-edge build up.  It provides superior removal rates and tool life when cutting difficult-to-machine materials like titanium.
 
The second option, Ti-Namite-A, is a harder coating, providing improved abrasion resistance, thermal resistance and chemical resistance, and allowing dry cutting.  The high hardness makes it ideal for cutting nickel alloys and stainless steels, as well as cast iron and other steels.
 
For further information on Z-Carb HPR tools and the Tool 4Life service, please contact:-
Jose Luis Ucar, EU Marketing & Business Development
Kyocera SGS Precision Tools Europe Ltd.
10 Ashville Way
Wokingham, Berkshire
RG41 2PL
Phone: 01189 795 200
Email: ucarj@kyocera-sgstool.com