Kennametal develops a 3D printed light-weight stator bore tool that meets accuracy, roundness, and surface finish requirements. Kennametal has developed a 3D printed stator bore tool specifically designed to meet growing customer demand for light-weight tooling solutions used to machine components for hybrid and electric vehicles. E-mobility components are typically machined on smaller, low-horsepower CNC machining centres that require light-weight tooling solutions. “The main bore, that houses the stator of electric motor measures approximately 250 mm in diameter (9.84”) and approximately 400 mm (15.74”) in length, with a smaller bearing bore at the bottom,” said Harald Bruetting, Manager, Program Engineering.
Bruetting and Kennametal’s Solution Engineering Group turned to the company’s in-house additive manufacturing capabilities to 3D-print a strong but lightweight indexable tool, equipped with proven Kennametal technologies including fine adjustable RIQ reaming inserts for high precision finishing and a KM4X adaptor for maximum rigidity. The tool also features internal 3D Printed cooling channels that helps maximize productivity and tool life. “By using metal powder bed 3D Printing together with finite element analysis software, we were able to design and build a tool that brought the moment of inertia very close to the spindle face, increasing its rigidity while meeting the customer’s weight restrictions,” said Werner Penkert, Manager, Future Solutions.
