The new Formulas App from Sheffield-based WNT (UK) Ltd (
www.wnt.com) is designed to make the calculation of cutting data quick, easy and practical.
It allows a complete set of formulae to be stored on the user’s smartphone or tablet to suit a range of machining applications, including shoulder milling, face milling, slot milling, ISO turning, grooving, drilling and counterboring.
Along with standard parameters, such as cutting speed, spindle speed, feed rate and average chip thickness, the Formulas App also calculates chip volume, torque, primary cutting force, primary processing time, and drive power data when machining pre-defined materials.
Once installed, the software is ready for use and can be operated intuitively, with the user first selecting the type of machining process using the structured input field, followed by the material to be machined and parameters such as diameter and cutting depth/width.
The Formulas App then calculates the recommended spindle speed and feed values, and the results can be entered into the CNC program.
WNT says that a major advantage of the app is the way it performs calculations. For shoulder milling, the average chip thickness can be entered as a parameter to calculate the appropriate feed value (this is an important criterion for trochoidal milling processes in particular).
The app also calculates all the relevant data to assess the feasibility of the machining operation — with no additional input required by the user.
The free-of-charge Formulas App is available from the Apple Store (for iOS devices) and the Google Play Store (for Android devices).