New Tool Coatings Make Short Work For Signmakers
The 180-10-A Series of single flute routers from Industrial Tooling Corporation (ITC) has now been extended with the arrival of a stub-length Iridis coated router for machining aluminium and a stub-length Vitreo coated variant for the machining of Aluminium Composite Materials (ACM).
The high-quality solid carbide routers from ITC have long been the ‘go-to’ cutting tool for the sign making sector with performance that is the benchmark of the industry. As the industry has evolved, so has the materials being processed and therefore the cutting tools for machining the ever-increasing range of materials. As a brand that has been at the forefront of cutting tool technology in the sign-making industry for more than 30 years, the new coated tools from ITC are developed and manufactured in the UK at the company’s Tamworth headquarters.
The stub-length 180-10-A Series single flute router with the new Iridis coating is a solid carbide tool with an upward spiral geometry that incorporates a 30° helix with a reinforced shank. Manufactured from ultra wear-resistant micro-grain carbide, the new stub-length Iridis coated range is perfect for reducing the number of collet changes and prolonging to life when machining aluminium. Furthermore, the combination of efficient tool geometry, the rigid stub-length that reduces vibration plus an extremely hard-wearing coating provides unsurpassed finishes that significantly reduce secondary finishing operations.
The stub length Iridis coated 180-10-A Series is available with 2, 3, 4 and 6mm cutting diameters with respective 3, 3, 4 and 6mm reinforced shanks and an overall length of 30, 30, 40 and 50mm. The length of cut is 7, 8, 10 and 14mm on the respective 2, 3, 4 and 6mm diameter tools. This geometry further enhances the rigidity, stability and strength of the tool, which subsequently results in the end-user making fewer tool changes and reducing tooling costs.
For machining Aluminium Composite Material (ACM), the new 180-10-A Series is available with the same tool dimensions and geometry but with a Vitreo coating. Unlike the Iridis coating for aluminium, the Vitreo coating has been specifically developed for the machining of the more challenging ACM. The coating technology guarantees exceptional surface finishes that is complemented by a tool geometry that minimises burrs. The combination of the Vitreo coating and the tool geometry makes this new stub-length arrival a very robust tool for most applications.