New generation of ball nose end mills

With the new KX system, HORN is launching a high-performance solution for the economical and reliable machining of ball bearing tracks. HORN developed the system specifically to meet the increasing demands for precision, flexibility and productivity in the production of constant velocity joints. The system covers a wide range of components and offers three sizes. Flexible machining strategies enable both soft and hard machining – from roughing and chamfering to finish milling. Customers can adapt the strategy precisely to their process requirements, ensuring a high level of cost-effectiveness.

With the KX system, HORN has considerably increased the performance of the tool system. Soft-cutting cutting heads with defined edge preparations enhance process reliability. Precise internal coolant positioning and a newly developed interface improve rigidity. Practical benchmarks confirm the performance: Users significantly increase cutting values and noticeably reduce cycle times. Depending on the component, they shorten the machining time by several seconds per workpiece and sustainably increase productivity.

Constant velocity joints are used in every car and are also known as homokinetic joints. Their purpose is to transmit uniform torque and angular speed from the drive shaft to a second shaft mounted at an angle to it. In other words, constant velocity joints transmit rotary motion uniformly to the next shaft. The joints are most widely used in vehicle construction for power transmission from the gearbox to the drive wheels. Constant velocity joints can transmit rotational movements at an angle of up to 50 degrees. In addition to fixed ball joints, sliding constant velocity joints are also used. They allow not only angular movement, but also axial movement so that power transmission is not interrupted when steering or during movement of the suspension.

At the heart of a homokinetic joint are the balls, which roll in precisely milled tracks. The ball tracks have a very tight manufacturing tolerance and a high surface finish is essential. The tight tolerances and the manufacturing quality determine how long the service life of the joints will be. The form tolerances of the parameters are to within microns.