ISCAR'S HELIMILL and HELI2000: Driving Progress in Modern Milling Solutions.

ISCAR'S HELIMILL revolutionised the milling industry with its innovative design, using helical cutting edges to enhance performance, accuracy, and durability. The latest advancements, including the HELI2000 platform, integrate highpressure cooling and advanced carbide grades, pushing the boundaries of modern milling technology.

The introduction of the ISCAR HELIMILL in the 1990s marked a significant milestone in milling tools. It revolutionised the design of milling tools with indexable inserts, establishing a new approach that would shape the industry for years to come. This breakthrough was achieved using a parallelogram-shaped carbide insert, featuring a helical cutting edge formed by the intersection of the insert's helical side and shaped top surfaces (Fig. 1). The HELIMILL concept offers several advantages.

Firstly, the consistency of the rake and relief angles along the insert's cutting edge, when mounted on a tool, reduces cutting force variations and ensures a smooth cutting action. Secondly, the uniformity of the insert's cutting wedge enhances its strength. Lastly, the helical cutting edge's proximity to the imaginary cylinder generated by a rotating tool improves accuracy compared to the straight edge found in previous-generation milling inserts. These advancements have elevated milling performance to new heights.

Over the years, continuous improvement has led to significant changes in the classical HELIMILL inserts. The helix of the cutting edge has become more aggressive, and the top surface topology has become more intricate. Combined with advanced carbide grades, these new designs have ushered in a new level of performance. However, the parallelogram insert shape limits the number of indexable cutting edges to two.