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EASTEC, the premier Northeast manufacturing trade show, returns from May 13 to 15, 2025, at the Eastern States Exposition, 1305 Memorial Ave, West Springfield, MA.

​This event showcases the latest advancements in machining, tooling, and automation, providing a vital platform for industry professionals to discover cutting-edge solutions, enhance productivity, and connect with key suppliers.

​This year, F&L Technical Sales is proud to support several top-tier manufacturers showcasing breakthrough technologies in tooling, workholding, and machining solutions.

​Be sure to visit the following booths to explore innovative products that can optimize your machining processes:

Platinum Tooling – LIVE Tooling & More, Booth 5148
Visit Platinum Tooling at EASTEC to see high-performance LIVE tooling solutions from Heimatec. Engineered for precision and durability, Heimatec tooling produces high-precision static and live tools for all CNC lathes, CNC turn-mill machines and CNC machining centers. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn how their advanced tooling options can decrease your  manufacturing cycle times.

Here at F&L Technical Sales, we're excited to introduce an advanced lineup of Tecnicrafts High Precision Collets and Guide Bushings, specifically engineered for Swiss Type CNC Automatic Lathes. This comprehensive range offers unparalleled precision, versatility, and durability to meet the demanding needs of modern manufacturing environments. Tecnicrafts is one of the premiere brands brought to us by Platinum Tooling.

Carbide Lined Guide Bushings: Precision Meets Versatility
Tecnicrafts Carbide Lined Guide Bushings are designed for exceptional performance, available in round, hex, square, or custom profiles to suit diverse machining needs. With Max Land Extended Carbide options available up to 75 mm and special features like Ultra Precision, Extended Nose, and U-line options, these bushings set new standards in machining accuracy and flexibility.

Steel Collets: Unmatched Reliability for Main & Sub Spindles
Tecnicrafts' Steel Collets are crafted to enhance your lathe's efficiency, compatible with both main and sub spindles. Choose from round, hex, square, or custom profiles, with smooth or grooved bores to match your project requirements. Our Steel Collets also come with special options, including Ultra Precision and Extended Nose, in the V-line series, offering superior clamping and precision.

Bar Feeder Collets: Uniform Tension for Optimal Feeding
Designed for seamless integration with bar feeders, Tecnicrafts Bar Feeder Collets are available with external & internal threads or in a pin type style, ensuring uniform tension for consistent feeding and machining accuracy.

ER Collet Chucks: Precision and Durability
​Tecnicrafts ER Collet Chucks, available in both single and double-ended styles, these chucks are distinguished by their exceptional runout tolerance, maintained within a maximum of .005 mm. They conform rigorously to h6 shaft standards, ensuring that each component delivers superior accuracy and extends tool life. Offered in a wide variety of shank types. Customers can choose from round shanks, round shanks with flats, in both single and double ends, available in an extensive range of both metric and inch sizes. Shanks can also be equipped with a back-up screw, providing additional customization options to meet specific operational requirements.

Guide Bush with Extended Carbide Insert: For Long, Accurate Components
The "Max Land" Guide Bushing with an Extended Carbide Insert offers a guiding surface length of up to 70mm and bore diameters ranging from 4 mm to 42 mm. This solution is ideal for components requiring extensive drawing back, such as long thread chasing, ensuring high concentricity and preventing slippage with its extended carbide insert.

Guide Bush - Drawn (Adjustable) Type: Custom Precision for Swiss Type CNC Lathes
Tailored for Swiss type CNC automatic lathes, ​Tecnicrafts Drawn (Adjustable) Type Guide Bushes ensure an excellent bore finish with a surface finish Ra value of 0.4 micron. With standard bore chamfer and customizable solutions, these guide bushes are engineered for optimal flexibility and precision.

Guide Bush with Brass Guide: Enhanced Component Guidance 
Upon request, all ​Tecnicrafts Guide Bushes can be equipped with a Brass Guide, providing superior guidance and support for the job, ensuring smoother operations and enhanced product quality.

Tecnicrafts, is committed to pushing the boundaries of precision machining. Their collets are not just tools; they are the building blocks for achieving peak performance and excellence in your machining processes. Dive into the future of manufacturing with Tecnicrafts' precision solutions—because when it comes to precision, we settle for nothing but the best.

Ready for Precision? Explore the transformative impact of Tecnicrafts High Precision Collets and Guide Bushings on your Swiss Type CNC Automatic Lathes.

​Contact us at F&L Technical Sales Inc. to discover more about how our products can elevate your machining projects to new heights of precision and efficiency.

PART MARKING PERFORMED IN SECONDS!
Save time and money with QUICK Marking Tools from Hommel + Keller. This modular part marking system makes it possible to reduce marking time by 85% in comparison to laser marking

QUICK Marking Tools offer many features and benefits:

• Easy to use
• Marks workpiece in seconds
• Spring-return design for “quick return” to starting position
• Single machine set-up eliminates the need for a secondary operation
• Interchangeable and customizable marking segments
• Mark on a variety of workpiece surfaces
• Tools are available in two sizes

To learn more about Quick Marking Tools or the other high-quality machine tool accessory lines from Platinum Tooling, please give us a call!

Platinum Tooling, the importer and master distributor of live tools, angle heads, speed increasers, Swiss machine products, knurling and marking tools, and shrink fit tool holders manufactured by various international suppliers, will now carry REV broaching tools in North America.

REV S.R.L., located in Northern Italy, is the manufacturer of innovative broaching solutions for CNC lathes and machining centers. The tools are ideal for machining simple keyways or internal and external profiles, both teeth and splines. Common profiles including square and hexagon are easily achieved and custom profiles are available. REV broaching tools offer excellent performance with long insert life and high surface quality.

The REV motorized broaching tool is designed for use on live tool lathes. Single machine set-up eliminates the need for secondary operation or outsourcing. REV tools are ideal for high production runs, and offer easy installation and fast processing time. These tools are designed for maximum rigidity, offer long tool life and an excellent finish. 

REV static broaching tools are for use on CNC lathes with or without a Y-axis. They offer a patented eccentric bushing which eliminates alignment errors for machines without a Y-axis. The tools have a sturdy two-piece construction and are ideal for smaller runs. They are designed for use in boring bar holders on lathes and for use in collet chucks or Weldon holders on machining centers. REV tools allow for a wide variety of standard and custom profiles and sizes.

REV broaching tools are a perfect complement to the Heimatec live tools that are sold by the extensive network of Platinum Tooling manufacturers’ representatives and distributors throughout North America. ​

 The announcement was made by Platinum Tooling president, Preben Hansen, at headquarters in Prospect Heights, Illinois.
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A longtime global leader in high-end knurling and marking tools, Hommel & Keller manufactures the QUICK line with a combination of function and innovation. Quality, precision, and stability are the key principals used to make QUICK tools successful. Furthermore, the company prides itself on a rich history of providing customized solutions for its customers.

The QUICK product spectrum offers innovative solutions for diverse knurling technology applications. For both form knurling and cut knurling, QUICK fulfills the most stringent quality standards and masters difficult tasks. Knurling tools are available for use on a wide range of workpiece diameters, including small tools for Swiss type lathes from Ø1.5mm.

QUICK marking tools make it possible to mark workpieces in seconds on a variety of surfaces and part geometries. Through single marking segments, the marking text can be individually customized. Tools are available in two diameters for interchangeable lettering, as well as custom logos. 

​These tools are used whenever absolute precision and first-rate surface quality are needed. Examples include medical and dental instruments, watches, fishing gear, windshield wiper shafts, barbells, screwdriver bits, fittings, connectors plus welding and cutting equipment. 

To download the full catalog just click below.

Platinum Tooling, the importer of live tools, angle heads, marking tools, Swiss tools, and multiple spindle tools manufactured by various global suppliers, has been importing and stocking Henninger Speed Increasers in North America since 2019.   

Henninger,  located in southwest Germany is a manufacturer of specialized equipment and precision machine tool accessories. Spindle Speeders, mechanical, air, and electric motor driven, Custom Angle Heads and Live Centers are amongst their specialties. ​

These systems are particularly useful for small-diameter tools that require more rpms than the machine tool spindle offers. Speeders enable using small-diameter tools that require more rpms than the machine spindle can offer. An additional benefit is said to be less wear on the machine spindle because it is not required to run at maximum rpm.

These speed increasers help maximize productivity by achieving a higher spindle rpm required for certain applications in today’s marketplace. 

Mechanical speeders are available with up to a 1:8 gear ratio and a maximum speed of 50,000 rpm. Air speeders can run continuously at up to 80,000 rpm and high frequency motor spindles can maintain up to 80,000 rpm with high torque, and have variable speed options.

Many of the speeders have automatic tool change capabilities and are modular in design to offer the customer greater flexibility.
​
Henninger also manufactures custom angle heads, live centers, face drivers, and live chucks.

​Be sure to give us a call if you want to know more! 

by Preben Hansen
This article originally appeared in Cutting Tool Engineering. 

Live tooling, as a component on a lathe, is specifically manipulated by the CNC to perform various milling, drilling and other operations while the workpiece is being held in position by the main or sub-spindle. 

​These components, whether BMT or VDI, are also called driven tools, as opposed to static tools, that are used during turning operations.

When the need arises for a new machine tool, careful consideration should be made to determine which live tools are appropriate for your application. While a standard machine tool package will help you get started, it is important to anticipate job and volume changes, as well unforeseen machining challenges from the beginning, in order to avoid machine downtime.

Tool life is the product of cutting intensity, materials processed, machine stability and parts produced. Two seemingly identical job shops can have vastly different tooling needs because one is automotive and one is medical, or one specializes in the one-off and low-volume work, while the other has a greater occurrence of longer running jobs. The totality of your operation determines the best tooling for the machines being purchased.

Bearing construction and the resulting spindle concentricity drive the life of any tool. You might find that just a 10-15% greater investment in a better design can yield both longer-lasting cutters and consistently superior finish on your products.  ​

Likewise, high pressure internal coolant might be desirable.  Look for 2000 psi capabilities in 90 degree tools and 1000 psi in straight tools.

You need to ask another question, namely, is the turret RPM sufficient to handle the work to be done?   
​
It’s possible that a live tool with a built-in speed increaser, often called a speed multiplier, would be helpful. Would it be beneficial to move secondary operations to your lathe?  Gear hobbing can be accomplished in this manner, as can producing squares or flats, through the use of polygon machining. ​

Now, an application example showing clear evidence of the value of testing live tool performance...

One company was performing a cross-milling application using an ER 32 output tool on a Eurotech lathe, running 10 ipm at 4000 rpm.  They were making three passes with a cycle time of 262 seconds and were having difficulties with chatter on the finish, while producing 20,000 pieces per year. ​

Preben Hansen is president of Platinum Tooling Technologies Inc., Prospect Heights, Illinois, and a veteran of over 25 years in tooling and is considered a leading authority on the topic in the North American machine tool market.

NEW ENGLAND - F&L Technical Sales is excited to announce our new partnership with Platinum Tooling Inc. based in Prospect Heights, IL.  Platinum Tooling is the sole importer of live tools, angle heads, and multiple spindle tools manufactured by Heimatec as well as the Tecnicrafts Swiss Collet and Guide Bushing line, Henninger Spindle Speeders, and AMF Markers and Cleaners.

• Heimatec is an international manufacturing company headquartered in Renchen, Germany. Heimatec specializes in the development and production of high-precision static and live tools for all CNC lathes, CNC turn-mill machines and CNC machining centers.
• ​Henninger is a manufacturer of Spindle Speeders, mechanical, air, and electric motor driven, Custom Angle Heads and Live Centers are among other specialized equipment and precision machine tool accessories.
• Tecnicrafts Collets and Guide Bushings are available in Standard and Ultra-Precision grades. The bore profiles include Round, Square, Hexagon, Rectangle and Custom as per customer specifications.
  
• AMF Markers are tools for the permanent marking of workpiece while AMF Cleaners are a thorough cleaning system with no aerosol pollution harmful to the health of the machine operator while reducing cleaning time and preserving the machine guides with no risk of injury from chips.