Photo Credit: Hofmeister
CompoTech Plus spol. s r.o. (Sušice, Czech Republic) announced on Jan. 20 that it has developed a new next-generation hybrid steel and carbon fiber (CF) composite milling cutting disc in collaboration with Hofmeister Innovation (Pilsen, Czech Republic). Increasing both conventional cutting speed and feed rate in overall machine time, the hybrid milling tool can reportedly operate 78% faster on the same milling center than a standard steel two-disc cutter.
The tool design uses a lightweight epoxy composite reinforced with ultra-high modulus carbon fibers for the inner section of the individual milling discs. The proprietary continuous fiber manufacturing process developed by CompoTech enabled the production of fully integrated hybrid milling discs with an outer band of 16 metal cutting inserts, for a total of 64. The CF section is integrated with the steel hub and ring using a combination of an interlocking shape design and steel bolts.