Cryogenic titanium machining increases cutting-tool life up to a factor of 10 and doubles the material-removal rate, compared to conventional machining methods in certain applications, says the company. The multi-patented process using liquid nitrogen (-321°F) was developed over a period of years by the team of Creare Incorporated (New Hampshire), H.M. Dunn Company (Texas) and MAG IAS, working with Lockheed Martin, the U.S. Navy Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program Office and the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO), with funding provided by SBIR program awards.

According to Mike Packer, Vice President of Manufacturing Strategy & Technical Integration at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, “This is a prime example of an SBIR-developed technology transitioning from the research and development phase to a system that can enhance affordability for near-term military projects like the F-35.”
    
MAG IAS is commercializing the process under exclusive license. Its machine tools are already used by the worldwide aerospace industry for the production of virtually all aircraft. The company also provides a unique portfolio of CYCLO CUT cutting tools, CYCLO COOL metalworking fluids, composites processing systems and support services devoted to aerospace manufacturing.
   
"This is one of the greatest breakthroughs in the history of metalworking and it promises to rewrite the book on machining speeds and costs for difficult to machine materials, which are critical in aerospace, and coming into common use in automotive and general industry applications as well," said Michael Judge, Vice President of Cryogenic Business Development. "In addition to the increases it brings in metal removal rates and tool life, low-flow cryogenic machining is a green manufacturing process that will produce a cascade of additional cost reductions by eliminating, or vastly minimizing, the use of liquid coolants. Liquid nitrogen is a non-greenhouse gas, so it is harmless to the environment, too."
   
MAG is offering cryogenic tool cooling technology on a range of new machines, including 5-axis and turning systems, as well as providing retrofit systems.

Check out the machining in action here.

www.mag-ias.com