Dormer Tools UK has expanded its family of solid carbide cutters for aluminium with the launch of five new cutters specifically designed to excel in precision milling applications with state-of-the-art CNC machines.

Building on the popularity of the S140 and S142 slot drills launched in October 2007, the new tools increase the range of applications covered by cutters capable of high-speed machining in aluminium and its alloys, as well as thermo-plastics and acrylic glass.
The S143, S144, S145 and S540 are designed with a neck and an extra-long effective length to prevent the shank from coming into contact with the material.

A high axial depth of cut can therefore be achieved with a short cutting length, with the added benefit of high tool rigidity. The S144 (corner radius) and S540 (ball nosed) end mills are particularly suited to machining complex surfaces.

Performance maximised
The S149 features a reduction along the full length of the shank in order to maximise performance in deep pocket milling and profiling operations. This allows the user to adjust the length of the tool projecting from the holder, minimising the risk of chipping.

All tools have an extremely highly polished surface that reduces friction between the surface of the tool and the workpiece, making for fast, efficient swarf evacuation and reduced machine downtime.

This feature, combined with narrow cylindrical land and flute design optimised for chip space, minimises tool vibration which, in turn, ensures an excellent surface quality on the component.

Part of the Sandvik Group, Dormer has a proud history dating back to 1889. The company is a global operator with sales units in more than 40 countries covering 100 markets.

Its expertise lies in the manufacture of superior quality cutting tools – primarily drills, reamers, taps and milling cutters - in solid carbide and high speed steel.

Dormer has its own research and development facilities and also works closely with many of the world’s leading universities and research institutes to ensure it remains at the forefront of tool design.

Meanwhile, in another development, Dormer said it has invested in the creation of a Research Technology Centre for composite materials.

“Composite materials are becoming increasingly important in the manufacture of not just aircraft, but also cars, boats, wind turbines and even bridges. Largely due to their excellent strength-to-weight ratio and corrosion resistance, their use has increased significantly over recent years,” it said.

“As more and more industries embrace composites technology, the need for knowledge increases and for this reason, Dormer has invested in the creation of a Research Technology Centre.”