The rise of electrification is happening more widely and suddenly than anyone expected, both for automobiles and for other types of electric vehicles (EVs). The global EV landscape is also more competitive than the automotive markets of previous decades, as more manufacturers—large and small—compete for space. How can manufacturers stay ahead of the competition while also overcoming the increasing challenges posed by difficult-to-machine materials, like high-strength steel? A new all-directional tooling method, combined with the next-generation CoroTurn Prime B-type insert from Sandvik Coromant, holds the answer.

Kennametal has introduced its next generation 3D printed stator bore tool for the machining of aluminum engine housings for electric vehicles. This latest version of the tool features a newly designed arm structure, a larger center tube made of carbon fiber, and a further weight reduction of greater than 20 percent over the original design.