More flutes make light work of thread milling

The Multiflute Helicool tools represent the newest addition to the extensive Vardex line of high-quality solid carbide thread milling tools. Multiflute tools are designed with up to seven flutes to enable faster cutting conditions. For better chip evacuation, machining with radial multiple passes is required.

Ideal for a wide range of materials including steel, stainless steel, cast iron and non-ferrous materials, Multiflute tools are offered in ISO Metric and American UN formats with through tool coolant.

Thread lengths available are two or three times thread diameter. Metric sizes cover M3 x 0.5 up to M16 x 2, with UN variants spanning No.10-32 up to 1 x 8”. Vargus’ VTH grade carbide is used throughout which is designed specifically for heavy-duty thread milling. A TiCN coating is also used for high wear resistance.

Vargus claims TM Solid Multiflute tools offer up to 40% faster machining times than conventional tools. In a working example, a seven flute M10 x 1.5 x 20 Multiflute went head to head with an equivalent three flute thread milling tool.

Material was SAE 4140, 30 HRC alloy steel; cutting speed (Vc) = 110m/minute and feed per tooth (fz) was 0.15mm/tooth on the Multiflute and 0.044mm/tooth on the conventional tool.

Aside from the faster feed rates, the process was significantly faster using the Multiflute tool: five seconds vs seven seconds.

The Vargus GENius software for tool selection and cutting data fully supports the new TM Solid Multiflute tools and allows the user to program thread milling applications with multiple passes. The software automatically generates the recommended number of passes required based on the machining data that is entered.

The software allows the user to change the number of passes manually, as well as to modify the depth of the final pass. This important new patent pending feature is recommended for applications that require multiple passes, such as long threads, difficult to machine applications, and hard materials.

Vargus Tooling www.vargusuk.co.uk