MAPAL Dr. Kress KG, globally recognized for its expertise in fine machining, is expanding its product portfolio to include solutions for spool bore pre-machining in hydraulic components. With this move, the precision tool manufacturer aims to provide customers with more comprehensive tooling solutions and greater flexibility in adopting complete machining systems from a single source.
The spool bore is a critical feature in hydraulic components such as valve housings and axial piston pumps. While fine machining of these bores using precision boring tools has long been one of MAPAL’s core strengths, the company is now extending its expertise to the pre-machining stage as well. This development enables customers to access integrated tooling solutions that cover the entire bore machining process.
MAPAL differentiates itself by offering ready-to-use tooling packages for hydraulic components that are specifically tailored to customer requirements. Developed through extensive component management and application expertise, these solutions support ongoing innovation and improved process reliability. The latest tooling developments further demonstrate this approach, combining advanced technical features with high process stability for demanding machining operations.
Pilot drill with three or five cutting edges
The pilot drill enables efficient piloting, reducing work processes and saving tool changes. Flexibility in responding to customer requirements is guaranteed with two pilot drill designs with three and five cutting edges respectively. This is required due to the various casting properties of raw parts.
With the new pilot drills, MAPAL is capable of offering a standardised solution for every raw casting scenario. The drill with three cutting edges is primarily used in good casting conditions, while the option with five cutting edges is used in unstable or poor casting conditions. It enables higher feeds and offers ultra-precise results with its high degree of positional accuracy. Both versions ensure maximum cost-effectiveness.
Solid carbide boring tool with three cutting edges
Like the pilot drill with three cutting edges, solid carbide boring tool with three cutting edges is based on patented multi-chamfer technology that enables clean chip separation, preventing swirling and issues with chip removal. In addition, targeted internal cooling ensures optimum tool life and machining with a high degree of process reliability, even for deep bores.
Drilling depths up to 10xD possible
The multi-chamfer technology also makes the tools well-suited for regrinding, helping to reduce the cost per bore. The boring tool prevents the formation of cast rings, which can lead to scrap for the customer. The tool’s robust design makes drilling depths of up to 10xD possible and is therefore ideal for critical length and diameter ratios such as in large valve housings.
MAPAL pursues a holistic approach when machining the spool bore. The tools are dealt with in the context of the entire machining process, not in an isolated way. The new tools are designed to be optimally aligned for the subsequent machining step.
By expanding its range with high-performance pre-machining tools, MAPAL positions itself as a holistic technology partner in fluid power technology and provides customised processes to enable customers to achieve not only high productivity and quality but to source all machining steps from a single source.
