While the operations of drilling, milling and reaming all place enormous stress on tools, Jill Glynn — commercial services manager at Sandvik Coromant — says tool reconditioning can cost effectively and sustainably extend a tool’s lifespan, adding that while the word ‘reconditioned’ can ‘ignite’ visions of worn, overworked products that are inferior to brand new versions, the reality is that as long as reconditioned tools are purchased from a reputable supplier they will deliver the same consistent results as they did upon initial purchase.

She said: “There are, however, still some misconceptions around reconditioned tools. Firstly, reconditioning isn’t equal to repair. When repairing a piece of equipment, only the defective parts are investigated and replaced.

“Reconditioning, on the other hand, rejuvenates every aspect of the product and brings the part back to its original manufacturing standard; and while customers should expect reconditioned products to be in the same perfect condition as a brand-new part, tool reconditions are slightly different to reconditioning of other industrial parts.

“Tool wear varies dramatically depending on its application. In automotive or aerospace manufacturing, where tools are required to drill many holes in a single run, producers may experience more damage.

“Similarly, industries that operate in difficult settings, like aerospace and oil and gas, may expose tools to harsher environments, further jeopardising their lifespan; and due to the applications of solid-carbide tools, it is not a case of if a tool will be reconditioned but when. Because of this inevitability, tool producers consider reconditioning from the design phase.”

Ms Glynn says that, typically, tool CAD data will be stored so that reconditioned versions can perfectly match the tool’s original geometry and coating. Also, the ability to re-use a single tool multiple times, as opposed to investing in multiple tools, helps improve sustainability.

She continued: “Solid-carbide tools, like those manufactured by Sandvik Coromant, are made using a number of finite materials, such as tungsten and cobalt. Tungsten reserves are projected to last for just 100 more years, making multiple repurchases unsustainable.

“Tools need to last longer if we are to manage materials sustainably. Reconditioning, in place of simply purchasing new tools, plays a major role in these efforts.”

Tool-reconditioning service
Ms Glynn added: “Sandvik Coromant offers its own tool-reconditioning service, which customers are encouraged to incorporate into their own tooling strategies. Almost all solid-carbide tools made by Sandvik Coromant are suitable for reconditioning.

“Customers simply need to send their tools to their local centre in one of the reconditioning boxes we supply. Worn tools can be sent to Sandvik Coromant specialist centres in Europe, Asia and the Americas, where the same geometry and coating is produced to the original specification.

“The reconditioning process improves tool longevity, but manufacturers want tools that can be reconditioned and deployed several times during their lifespan.

“With this in mind, tool manufacturers should aim to produce tools that can undergo multiple reconditioning cycles, without compromising quality. Indeed, when Sandvik Coromant recently developed the CoroDrill 860 with GM geometry, it had these considerations in mind.

“The new tool design gives increased tool life over the previous versions of the CoroDrill range, and the CoroDrill 860-GM is guaranteed for up to three reconditions — effectively providing four tools in a single solution.

“Replacing solid-carbide tools can be expensive and unsustainable. Misconceptions about reconditioning must be pushed aside, and this practice should play a key role in operating companies’ sustainability plans.”