The latest Iscar LogiQuick campaign has unveiled a diverse range of new cutting tools, effectively replenishing the company’s portfolio. Iscar is known for prioritising innovation, so it comes as no surprise that these new products have piqued the interest of the metalworking community, including machine shops and other cutting tool manufacturers.

The innovations span across all aspects of the company’s range, including turning, parting, holemaking, milling, threading, and toolholding. Along with these new developments, the campaign also introduces additional designs that improve and expand the existing families. There is also a special emphasis on the digital component, which has become an integral part of tools for modern smart manufacturing.

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In fact, LogiQuick sets the direction for Iscar’s strategy in the coming years. Our brief review aims to explore the benefits of some recently introduced products and reveal how they can boost the profitability of machining operations. At times, a newcomer might appear insignificant. However, even a seemingly minor change is strategically directed towards enhancing cutting performance to improve cost-effectiveness. According to Iscar, this aspect is the heart, the essence of the entire product development process.

Classical expansions
Following the market demands, the set of product families has been expanded using a traditional approach. For example, the SumoCham self-centring drilling heads family, which falls within the diameter range of 4.0 to 32.9mm, has been enriched by introducing 0.1mm diameter increment sizes in addition to the initial 0.5mm increment. The cutting geometry of these heads is optimised for drilling both steel and cast iron (ISO P and ISO K groups of application). This means that one head can replace two other types, resulting in reduced stock.

Another example is the ChatterFree solid carbide end mills (SCEM) family. These versatile tools are designed for machining steel, stainless steel, and hardened steel (ISO P, ISO M, and ISO H groups of application). They have been expanded with a variety of new corner radii.

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Additionally, the T-Slot family, a popular range of slot milling cutters with exchangeable solid carbide heads, has been expanded to include a new head diameter of 25mm. This upgrade lowers the minimum limit of the T-slot head diameter range and is designed to accommodate a wider range of widths, making the heads highly efficient for milling narrow slots and grooves in various workpiece materials.

New developments in thread milling
Iscar has expanded its family of solid carbide thread endmills by introducing new tools with an increased number of flutes (up to 8), significantly reducing machining time. A few words are worth mentioning about the new Quick-M-Thread family of milling cutters with triangular inserts (Fig. 1) in the range of indexable threading products.

These incorporate a step-release design concept that substantially reduces cutting forces, minimises bending load, and improves dynamic stability, thereby enhancing productivity. The new tools, both solid and indexable, are also equipped with an internal coolant supply option, which not only increases the cooling effect and lubricity during thread milling but also contributes to better chip flow and surface finish.

Multi-Master’s headline
The Multi-Master family of tools with exchangeable cutting heads has been a flagship product of Iscar for almost a quarter of a century. Despite its “considerable enough” age, innovation never stops within this versatile product line. The launch of the LogiQuick campaign has introduced new developments, further expanding the application range of the popular family.

One of the new products is a series of six-flute solid carbide heads, intended for quick metal removal in roughing using the high feed milling (HFM) method (Fig. 2). These heads have ramping and slotting capabilities and are suitable for machining hard steel and cast iron (up to HRC 65). They are available in diameters ranging from 8 to 25mm. Another addition is represented by new three-flute heads specifically designed for shallow drilling operations (with a depth of up to one head diameter). The heads seamlessly combine the highly efficient cutting geometry of Logiq-3-Cham, another popular product of the company, with the exceptional robustness of the Multi-Master concept. This combination results in a highly productive drilling tool, especially when used with materials that produce short chips.

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A new double-sided design featuring two pockets in one shank offers cost-effectiveness and sustainable utilisation of the shank material. The shank, which is made of steel, includes a central trough hole for internal coolant supply.

A novel design for a known concept
The concept of an “all-in-one” compact 90-degree indexable cutter suitable for various milling operations – for example, milling square shoulder, slot or complex contour, along with drilling capabilities – is not new. Such a cutter excels in many machining applications, eliminating the need for specialized tools. However, the Quick-D-Mill (Fig. 4), a new family of these cutters, features an innovative design that undoubtedly provides additional benefits for customers.

The family includes double-toothed right-hand cutters with two rectangular-shaped indexable carbide inserts. Each insert possesses a total of 4 cutting edges, and the Quick-D-Mill design enables the insert to be used for both central and peripheral cutting. This optimises insert utilisation, reduces the frequency of insert replacements, and lowers costs.

Fig 4

The insert pocket’s robust design incorporates a dovetail clamping mechanism, enhancing process reliability. While the cutter is characterised by one effective tooth during drilling, it boasts two effective teeth during milling, offering a significant functional advantage. The new cutters are produced in an endmill design with a diameter range of 16-25mm. Additionally, the Multi-Master head configuration is available within the same range, featuring an option for a pinpointed internal high-pressure coolant supply.

Elevating the well-known to a higher level by infusing it with new quality – this phrase perfectly summarises the essence of the Quick-D-Mill family.

AI power for Neoita
The Neoita – Iscar Tool Adviser, a “hybrid expert” that suggests optimal tooling solutions for specific machining applications, has improved its online features. In terms of drilling processes, the recently introduced editing and comparison functions make it easier to challenge the Neoita. It is done by adjusting the suggested cutting data, considering factors such as machine characteristics, batch sizes, and adaptation limitations. Consequently, this empowers engineers to choose the most suitable machining parameters. By simulating drilling cycles, customers can achieve the desired commercial result.

Also, Neoita has been enhanced with a new smart AI feature, which allows Neoita users to search for and access detailed material specifications, including metallurgical composition and common uses. The search results can then be incorporated into the Neoita material library database or the customer’s personal libraries, if needed.

An attentive reader may have noticed that the core of our review pertains to rotating tools. Does this imply that turning, grooving, and parting applications are not included in the LogiQuick campaign? The answer is a resounding no. We will revisit Iscar’s innovations in the non-rotating cutting tool field (and tool holding, too), which warrants a separate analysis, shortly.

For further details contact Iscar South Africa on TEL: 011 997 2700 or visit www.iscar.com