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26/6/2023
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Phantom simplifies CNC milling by introducing a universal SC cutter featuring a work area icon

Phantom HP2 is the new all-rounder

With the introduction of the new HP2 UNI SC cutter, Phantom is offering machining technicians a truly universal tool. Drilling, milling, full slotting and 45-degree plunging - the Phantom HP2 can do it all thanks to some unique features. With this milling cutter, the Dutch tool manufacturer is abandoning DIN standardisation and is now using icons that enable programming without the need for a calculation table.  

The Dutch manufacturer of Phantom tools has introduced some innovations recently, making things particularly easy for machining technicians. "We provide not only excellent tools, but also the know-how needed to mill using these tools," comments Product Manager Jacco Kramer.

Universal cutter 
The latest newcomer to Phantom's tool range is the HP2 UNI SC vari cutter. The fact that this cutter can be used so widely is partly due to the fact that carbide qualities are continually improving. Furthermore, Phantom has equipped the new HP2 universal cutter with a number of unique features, further broadening its usability and reliability. For example, special head geometry has been developed that now enables slotting, plunging, contour milling and even drilling without a starting hole using just one single tool.

Increased reliability 
To increase reliability, Phantom has the cutting edges honed before the coating is applied. Thanks to the cutting-edge radius, the coating adheres better, greatly reducing the risk of breaking down. According to Jacco Kramer, "if cutters have sharp cutting edges, you often notice that they start to crumble, causing the coating to disappear quickly." This cutter has been given an aluminium chrome nitride (AlCrN) coating, suitable for dry and wet machining. Increased tool life means the cutter has greater reliability, an important factor these days as more and more companies are becoming automated. At its Test and Training Centre, the Phantom team has extensively tested the HP2 UNI tungsten carbide vari cutter in plunging operations. This revealed an increased tool life of 30% on average compared with competitive brands. As the cutter is used so universally, Phantom keeps HP2 in stock for all radius sizes ranging from 0.25 to 5 mm. Intermediate sizes, which were often regarded as specials until now, are also available straight from stock. The recommendation is to use cutters of a certain radius, but Phantom also has the standard guard phase in its range.

Move away from DIN standard  
With the introduction of the new universal cutter, Phantom is abandoning the DIN standard. As with drills, the cutting-edge length is expressed as the ratio to the diameter, i.e. 1xD, 2xD, etc. As Jacco Kramer points out, "With drills, the cutting-edge length is based on the shank. This eliminates the need for a book of tables. Certainly, the younger generation of programmers, often college-educated, are less familiar with DIN standards, which, incidentally, are not always logical. Using 2xD, 3xD and so on simplifies things." Phantom is also keen to introduce this step-by-step for its other cutters and also aims to introduce the use of a special icon enabling the milling technician to see at a glance what the ideal application for the tool is. "Milling technicians calculate the cutting depth and width, but nobody takes into account the fluctuation in cutting power," Jacco Kramer explains.

Making the work area visible 
The uneven helix of a cutter is designed to absorb such fluctuations and to reduce vibration. But at certain ratios between depth (ap) and width (ae), the cutting forces change and a cutter can still vibrate, thus increasing wear and tear. For the HP2 cutter, Phantom carried out a large number of tests to establish the ideal work area for the cutter. This is visualised in a graph showing the optimum percentage width (ae) for different length-diameters. "This means calculations are no longer required, and figuring things out by trial and error is also a thing of the past. The CNC programmer can immediately see from the icon at what depth percentage the cutter will work best as well as when vibrations will occur." Green represents a reliable process with minimal wear, whereas orange means that milling can still be carried out successfully, albeit with an increasing risk of vibrations. The red areas should be avoided. In future, Phantom will also be including this icon with all its other tools for its customers. "At Phantom, we see it as our mission to provide not only excellent tools but also the parameters to make CNC milling easy," concludes Phantom’s product manager.

See the range here