by Bernard Martin

If you’re in aerospace machining—or really any kind of high-performance metal cutting—you already know the battle: heat, chip control, tool wear, repeat. The hotter and harder the material, the more headaches you're dealing with. That’s exactly where Heimatec’s internal coolant live tools come into play.

Distributed in North America by Platinum Tooling, these tools are built with one job in mind—keeping things cool and consistent when you're cutting the tough stuff like titanium and Inconel.

So what’s the big deal with internal coolant?
Instead of relying on external coolant to hit the cutting zone (and hoping it gets there), Heimatec’s live tools send high-pressure coolant through the tool body and right to the cutting edge. That means better heat control, cleaner chips, and a serious boost in tool life. If you're chasing better finishes and tighter tolerances, this is a huge advantage—especially on longer cycle times or production runs.

Coolant-thru technology is often the answer for faster more productive cutting on many applications especially when drilling deep holes where chips and excess heat build-up.  Heimatec now offers high-pressure coolant-thru designs up to 1000psi on straight tools and 2000psi on 90-degree tools. High pressure internal coolant is also available on universal tools, multiple spindle tools, and speed increasers with up to 1:4 gear ratios at 24,000rpm.
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Built tough for real-world machining
These live tools aren't just about coolant—they're built to handle the abuse of daily production. They use high-precision ABEC 7 bearings, hardened and ground gears, and are balanced to run smoothly at high RPMs with minimal backlash. In short, they’re engineered for shops that run tight programs, day in and day out.

Save time with quick-change systems
If tool changes are killing your setup time, Heimatec has a few tricks up its sleeve. Their u-tec® system and HT Quick Change options let you swap tools fast without re-dialing everything in. You stay productive without sacrificing precision.

Works with the machines you're already running
​Whether you're running a DMG Mori, Okuma, Haas, Mazak—or something else entirely—Heimatec most likely has a live tool that drops right into your turret or BMT block. No special adapters. No headaches. Just solid compatibility.

Custom tools? Yeah, they do that too
Every job’s different. If you're doing deep hole drilling, unique milling paths, or have a funky part setup, Heimatec can build a tool specifically for your application. It’s not cookie-cutter—it’s whatever works best for how you machine.

If you're tired of pushing tools to the limit and watching your inserts burn up halfway through a cycle, Heimatec's internal coolant tools could be a real game-changer. Better cooling, stronger construction, faster setups—it’s all about giving your shop more uptime and fewer surprises.
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Want to dig deeper into specs or see if they’ve got a fit for your machine? Hit up Platinum Tooling. They know their stuff. Give us a call!

If you’re cutting aluminum or other non-ferrous materials and still pushing old tooling through the job, it’s time for an upgrade. OSG just rolled out something that’s going to make your finish look better, your cycle times shorter, and your inserts last longer – the new PHOENIX® PFDC Indexable Face Mill Cutter.

So, what’s the deal?
The PFDC is a face milling cutter purpose-built for non-ferrous materials – think aluminum alloys, copper, brass, and even plastics. OSG dialed in everything about this cutter for high-speed, high-efficiency machining without beating up your spindle or wasting time on post-processing.

Let’s break it down...

• Lightweight Cutter Body = Spindle Friendly. You know how heavier cutters can stress your machine at higher RPMs? Not this one. The PFDC uses a lightweight aluminum alloy body that keeps vibrations down and lets you run faster without hammering your spindle bearings. Less weight, less wear, more uptime.
• Highly Polished Inserts = Mirror-Like Finishes. The inserts are where this cutter really shines—literally. They’re polished to a near-mirror finish to reduce built-up edge (BUE), which means cleaner shearing and better chip evacuation. The result? You get finishes that might not even need a secondary operation. Your parts come off the mill clean and smooth, saving you time on the back end.
• Single-Screw Clamping = Fast Changes, Tight TolerancesSwapping out inserts doesn’t need to be a headache. The PFDC uses a single-screw clamping system that holds tight, keeps things rigid under load, and still lets you change inserts quickly. No fussing around trying to get it aligned just right—it seats consistently every time.

Two Insert Grades to Cover Your Needs

• PFGX: This one's your go-to for finishing. If you’re chasing a great surface finish, these are what you want in the pockets.
• PFMX: Built more for roughing, these inserts take bigger bites without sacrificing surface integrity. You can get aggressive, remove material fast, and still stay on spec.

Who’s This For?
If you’re running aluminum wheels, housings, manifolds, or even just general non-ferrous parts, the PFDC should be on your radar. Whether you’re a job shop or a production house, it’s a solid choice for getting more parts off the machine, faster and cleaner.

Bottom Line: OSG isn’t playing around with this release.
The PFDC cutter is made for speed, longevity, and a top-tier finish in non-ferrous materials. If you're ready to stop fighting your tooling and start pushing your machines to do what they’re built for, it might be time to give this cutter a try.

Want to see if it fits your machines or get a test cut going? Reach out—we’ll help you get one spinning on your spindle.

The A Brand A-XPF is designed to deliver exceptional threading performance through a blend of innovative geometry, advanced coatings, and precision engineering. Built for versatility, these forming taps are ideal for manufacturers seeking consistency, tool life, and performance across multiple materials and applications.

Newly Released TapsThe A-XPF expansion includes several new list numbers, offering a broader selection for varying applications:

• List #26350
• List #26255
• List #26355
• List #26260
• List #26360

Each is optimized to meet the needs of today’s high-mix production environments, where reliable multi-material performance is critical.

Key Features & Benefits

• Special Chamfer Design: Engineered with unique chamfer specifications, the A-XPF promotes stable machining with reduced thrust load, minimizing tool wear and supporting higher consistency in hole quality.
• Optimized Thread Configuration: A refined thread geometry increases edge strength and thread rigidity, reducing deformation and ensuring accurate thread formation even in difficult-to-tap materials.
• Next-Gen VI Coating: The newly formulated VI coating is developed for high-load machining scenarios. It offers excellent oxidation resistance, outstanding lubricity, and high surface hardness—ideal for demanding production environments requiring long tool life and repeatability.

Performance You Can Count On
​The A-XPF forming tap line reflects OSG’s commitment to continuous innovation and application-driven tool design. Whether you're threading carbon steels, alloy steels, stainless steels, or non-ferrous metals, the A-XPF provides reliable performance and extended tool life, reducing downtime and boosting productivity.
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To view the full product flyer and specifications, please visit OSG USA's A Brand A-XPF Page.

If you’ve been using OSG’s SynchroMaster Tap Holders, you already know they’re built to boost tap life and improve thread quality—especially in rigid tapping applications on CNCs. Now, OSG just made them even more versatile with the release of a new inch straight shank version.

This new option (List #9550) is a game-changer for anyone running manual mills or CNC machines that prefer straight shank holders over BT, CAT, or HSK styles. It’s the same high-performance tool you’re used to—just now in a format that works for a wider range of setups.

Why Shops Like Yours Are Turning to the SynchroMaster:

• One-piece body – More rigidity, less runout. You get better thread finish and consistency, especially in tough materials.
• Built-in micro-comp – That metal flexure system takes up just the right amount of pitch error during rigid tapping, which reduces torque on your tap. Translation: less breakage, longer tap life.
• Coolant-ready sealed collets (ER16 & ER32) – Keeps chips and coolant where they should be. No messy spray or heat buildup at the tap.

Whether you’re tapping aluminum, stainless, or titanium, the SynchroMaster gives you cleaner threads and less downtime from busted taps. And now that there’s a straight shank option, it drops right into even more setups.
If your shop’s been holding off because of machine compatibility, now’s the time to give these holders a serious look. You’ll see the benefits in both tool life and thread quality.
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Got questions about which setup’s right for you? Let’s talk. This expansion means even more shops can tap smarter—not harder.

mostly used in the processing of materials with short cutting chips and low cutting resistance, such as cast iron, ductile cast iron and aluminum alloy. Three-flute drills are sometimes advertised to be suitable for steel materials such as carbon steel, alloy steel and mild steel. However, with a smaller chip room geometry than 2-flute drills, the cutting thrust resistance in 3-flute drills is also greater.

Due to constraints in workpiece configuration, equipment and setup, conventional 3-flute drills often are unable to maximize both speed and precision as advertised.

​Moreover, in steel processing, the strength of the work material and viscosity are high, making chip separation and stable processing a challenge. With high thrust force and poor chip evacuation, sudden machining troubles such as tool breakage and chipping are common headaches of 3-flute drills.

To help manufacturers maximize productivity, OSG has recently introduced a new revolutionary drilling innovation – the ADO-TRS – nicknamed as the ‘Triple Revolution’ drill, for ultra-machining efficiency and stability in steel materials.

There are three major features that enable the ADO-TRS to stably process steel applications. The most notable key feature is the newly engineered R gash geometry (pat. P) as illustrated in figure 1.

The optimized R shape geometry is designed to control chip flow direction to facilitate trouble-tree chip-evacuation. With this new feature, the ADO-TRS is able to significantly improve chip separation even in steel materials by breaking them into small pieces and consistent shape.

In addition, this new geometry can reduce cutting resistance (thrust resistance), by as much as 30 percent versus conventional tooling, enabling it to outperform even 2-flute drills in high-feed processing with minimal cutting resistance.

The second key feature of the ADO-TRS is its wide chip pocket configuration.

In 3-flute drills, chips are difficult to be discharged from the center of the drill. The ADO-TRS employs a wide chip room flute geometry to improve chip ejection. Combined with the R gash specification, chips are curled for greater separation capability, which leads to smooth and stable chip evacuation.

Last but not least, the ADO-TRS is coated with OSG’s original EgiAs coating for high durability. The EgiAs coating is consist of overlapping nano-periodical layers and wear-resistance layers, engineered to suppress the propagation of cracks that are likely to occur during drilling.

​The wear-resistance layer is composed of multiple hard layers; while the nano-periodical is a combination of hard and soft layers. With a mixture of hard and soft layers, internal stress can be relieved, allowing the EgiAs coating to achieve both high wear resistance and extreme toughness to ensure stable and consistent tool life under aggressive cutting conditions.

Moreover, in the processing of SS400 using water-soluble coolant, sudden tool damage and chipping caused by tangled chips are prone to occur.

The stability in chip formation and evacuation is a key factor for achieving stable processing in mild steel SS400, which is particularly prone to chip problems.

​As illustrated in figure 4 and figure 5, the ADO-TRS demonstrates overwhelming chip separation capability and long tool life even in the processing of SS400 in comparison to the conventional 3-flute drill and 2-flute drill.

Next, figure 6 illustrates a comparison of cutting resistance when processing under the cutting condition depicted in figure 2.

As shown in figure 6, the ADO-TRS is able to reduce thrust resistance by approximately 35 percent versus conventional 3-flute drills, and generated even less overall thrust resistance when compared to a standard 2-flute carbide drill, which has one less flute and larger chip rooms. Under identical cutting condition, the ADO-TRS is able to achieve the lowest thrust resistance.

Due to high cutting resistance inherent in conventional 3-flute drills and the various constraints present in processing environment, such as the machine, workpiece geometry, work fixture, etc., conventional 3-flute drills are often unable to maximize high-feed performance and precision. The ADO-TRS, on the other hand, excels in wide range of cutting conditions, truly reflecting its versatile capability.

Founded in 2002 with the vision to revolutionize precision tooling manufacturing in India, Tecnicrafts Industries has emerged as a pioneer in producing high-quality collets, honing mandrels, sleeves, holding tools, jigs, and fixtures.

Technicrafts is imported through Platinum Tooling for North America and represented by Next Generation Tooling in much of the West Coast.   ​

At the heart of Tecnicrafts' offerings are their meticulously crafted Dead Length Collets, also known as F-Type Collets. These collets serve as indispensable holding devices for tools, raw materials, or components during various machining operations. Widely utilized on main and rear spindles of turning machines such as cam-operated lathes and CNC Swiss automatic lathes, Tecnicrafts' Dead Length Collets have become instrumental in the precision machining industry. ​

Tecnicrafts' commitment to delivering high-quality precision tooling has positioned them as a trusted partner for machining industries globally. With a diverse product range catering to various machining needs, Tecnicrafts Industries continues to set new standards in the world of precision tooling, providing solutions that empower manufacturers to achieve unparalleled accuracy and efficiency in their operations.

For personalized assistance and to explore the perfect tooling solution for your specific requirements, contact Next Generation Tooling today. Unlock the full potential of precision machining with Tecnicrafts and take your production to new heights.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 1 2024 – Next Generation Tooling is proud to announce its appointment as the exclusive agent for Achteck America Inc., marking the company’s official entry into the North American market. Achteck America, a leading global manufacturer of cutting tools, is known for its full range of high-performance products, including indexable and solid carbide solutions for turning, milling, drilling, and grooving.

This partnership brings Achteck America's advanced cutting tools to the Western United States, offering a new level of precision, durability, and competitive pricing to the region’s metalcutting industry.

Achteck America Inc. stands out in the market for its unique vertical integration process, where they not only source the raw materials but also develop and press all of their own carbide grades. Their Michigan-based inventory ensures fast delivery and availability across a variety of sectors.

The company’s product lineup is tailored for different materials such as steel, stainless steel, heat-resistant alloys, and aluminum, with tools optimized for general machining, Swiss-style turning, heavy-duty turning, and specialized applications like railway wheel turning.

Chris Savolainen, President of Next Generation Tooling, expressed his enthusiasm for this partnership, stating,

“These folks not only mine the raw materials but also develop and press all of their own carbide grades, which really makes them unique in our metalcutting industry. We are really excited to be a part of the launch of this product in the Western United States.”

Achteck America's cutting tool offerings include:

• Indexable turning tools for a wide range of applications, ranging from heavy-duty rail turning to aerospace materials.
• Milling inserts and cutters designed for face, shoulder, and high-feed milling with advanced insert geometries.
• Drilling solutions, featuring indexable and solid carbide drills for short and deep-hole applications.
• Grooving tools for external, internal, and face grooving across a variety of materials.

Next Generation Tooling is excited to introduce this innovative product line to manufacturers in the Western United States and looks forward to expanding Achteck America's reach in the North American market.
For more information on Achteck America’s cutting tools or Next Generation Tooling’s exclusive offerings, visit [website link].

About Achteck America Inc.
Achteck America Inc. is a global leader in the design and manufacture of cutting tools for turning, milling, drilling, and grooving applications. Their product range includes both indexable and solid carbide tools, developed for a wide array of materials and industries. Based in Michigan, Achteck America ensures fast delivery and reliable solutions tailored to the needs of North American manufacturers.

About Next Generation Tooling
Next Generation Tooling is a leading manufactures agent of advanced cutting tools and metalworking solutions, providing innovative products and services to manufacturers across the Western United States. With a focus on precision, quality, and customer service, Next Generation Tooling brings the best in cutting-edge technology to the metalworking industry.