A couple years ago we at CountyLine-Tool had a unique opportunity to assist one of our partners (Oerlikon Balzers) in a case study
for a popular auto maker. In this study the auto maker was using a
different company for their regrinding needs and using a standard
coating. Our partner Oerlikon asked us to assist them in properly
sharpening these tools for them before they added their specialty
coating. Below are some of the guidelines of the study:
1. Scope: Drill 6 holes each part piece
2. Tool Type: Step Drill
3. New tool originally were getting 200 pieces then 120 after a regrind.
4. Peck feed method for drilling
With the combination of our precise geometry and Balzers' coating we
took them from 120 pieces per regrind to over 300 pieces per regrind. We
even performed better than a brand new tool which was getting 200
pieces. They no longer had to peck-feed each hole giving them a 20%
faster feed rate.
Summary:
Previous method = 1 new tool with TiALN Coating + regrind x 1 = Total of 6612 Linear Inches
New Method = Refurbishing 1 used tool + Petura Coating = Total of 9918 Linear Inches.
What does all this mean?
It means that the myth of reground tools being inferior to a new tool
is busted. It means they saved time. It means they had less tooling
costs. It means we saved that auto maker money; a lot of it! They saw a
$71,372.92 cost savings on tooling over 50,000 parts (roughly a year).
