by Bernard Martin

Anyone who has spent time boring holes already knows the rules. You pick the bar based upon lenght to diameter ratios, depth, material, and tolerance before the tool ever gets near the spindle. And that's the mindset Canela designs their boring bars around.

Canela boring bars are built for internal turning, boring, and facing jobs/ When you’re holding size inside a bore, the bar has to behave exactly the way you expect, especially as reach increases.

The standard steel boring bars cover diameters from 8 mm to 50 mm, or roughly 0.315" to 2.000", with overall lengths up to 400 mm (~15.75"). For most day-to-day work, these bars are designed to run comfortably in the common 4:1 to 6:1 length-to-diameter range. That’s the sweet spot where rigidity is predictable and surface finish stays under control without slowing the process down.

When the print requires reach beyond what a steel bar can realistically support, Canela offers heavy metal boring bars manufactured from tungsten alloy. The higher density of tungsten increases the mass of the bar, which improves damping and reduces deflection as overhang increases. That added mass helps control vibration at longer L/D ratios, keeping the cutting edge stable and the bore on size. In deeper boring applications, where a steel bar starts to lose rigidity and starts to chatter, the heavy metal bar maintains consistent cutting behavior.

Material selection and heat treatment are handled with the same practical approach. The steel bars are manufactured from 42CrMo4, alloy steels, and through-hardened to approximately 38–42 HRC. That means rigidity without brittleness and a bar that holds up many many machine cycles.

Coolant-through options are available across much of the lineup, which becomes increasingly important as depth increases. Delivering coolant directly to the cutting edge improves chip evacuation, keeps heat from building up in the bore, and helps maintain consistent cutting conditions. For deep holes or tougher materials, that direct coolant path makes the process far more repeatable.

Canela organizes its boring bar lineup by insert orientation and clamping method, because those two factors directly control rigidity, insert security, and cutting behavior. Each style exists for a reason.

• Negative Boring Bars – Dimple Lock - These bars use negative, double-sided inserts secured with a dimple-style locking interface. The design provides repeatable insert positioning and solid seating under load. This style is typically chosen for general roughing and semi-roughing work where insert stability and consistent edge location matter more than low cutting pressure.
  
• Negative Boring Bars – Wedge Clamp (Double Lock) -Wedge clamp double-lock bars are built for higher cutting forces and more demanding conditions. The wedge system mechanically drives the insert into the pocket, improving clamping force and resistance to movement. These bars are well suited for heavier cuts, tougher materials, and interrupted bores where insert security is critical.
  
• Negative Boring Bars – Lever Lock - Lever lock designs focus on fast, positive insert retention with strong mechanical engagement. They’re often selected in production environments where repeatability and quick insert changes are important, while still maintaining the rigidity expected from a negative insert platform.
  
• Positive Boring Bars – Top Clamp - Positive top-clamp bars combine lower cutting forces with improved insert access. The top clamp provides additional security compared to a simple screw while keeping cutting pressure manageable. These bars are commonly used for semi-finishing and finishing operations, particularly in smaller bores or longer overhangs where stability benefits from reduced radial load.
  
• Positive Boring Bars – Center Screw - Center screw positive bars are the simplest and most compact configuration in the lineup. They prioritize low cutting forces and clean cutting action, making them a good choice for finishing work, lighter cuts, and applications where bore size or tool access is limited.
  
• Anti-Vibration Tools - For extended reach applications, Canela offers dedicated anti-vibration boring bars. These bars are designed to suppress chatter and control vibration when standard steel bars approach their practical limits. They’re intended for deeper bores and tighter tolerances where maintaining stability over long overhangs is non-negotiable.
  

Insert compatibility is where the Canela system really opens up. Depending on the bar style and clamping method, Canela boring bars are designed to accept a wide range of ISO insert shapes, including T, W, C, S, D, and V styles.

That gives you access to both positive and negative inserts, multiple corner angles, and a broad selection of chipbreaker and grade options. Whether the job calls for fine finishing, general boring, or heavier roughing cuts, you can select the insert geometry that best matches the material, depth of cut, and stability requirements instead of being forced into a single insert style.

When boring operations are approached the right way, these bars provide the rigidity, control, and consistency needed to hit size and finish without drama.

by Bernard Martin

If you spend any amount of time around CNC machines, you know setup efficiency has a direct impact on throughput. It doesn’t matter how fast the machine is or how optimized the toolpaths are — if setups are slow or inconsistent, that time comes straight out of productivity.  That’s where a zero-point workholding system like Jergens Zero Point System, ZPS, starts to make sense.

The ZPS system is designed to reduce setup time while maintaining high positioning accuracy and repeatability. It’s not a replacement for good fixturing practices; it’s a way to make those practices faster, more consistent, and easier to repeat across machines.

What the ZPS System Does
At a basic level, ZPS is a quick-change locating and clamping system. It allows fixtures, vises, pallets, or even parts themselves to be mounted and removed from a machine table in a single motion, without re-indicating each time.

Once the Jergens ZPS subplate modules are installed and indicated in, every fixture that mates to them returns to the same location with high repeatability. That means when a fixture comes off the machine and goes back on later — or moves to another machine set up the same way — it lands where you expect it to.

How It Works in Practice
The system is built around hardened locating subplate modules mounted to the machine table or pallet. Fixtures or plates are equipped with pull studs that engage those modules. When clamped, the modules pull the fixture down and center it simultaneously, locking it into position.

There’s also a flexibility advantage. Shops running a mix of parts, short runs, or multiple operations benefit from being able to change setups quickly without dedicating a machine to a single fixture for days at a time.

Where ZPS Makes the Most Sense
ZPS is commonly used on:

• Vertical and horizontal machining centers with frequent changeovers
• 4-axis and 5-axis machines where access and repeatability matter
• Palletized systems and cells running multiple fixtures
• Shops looking to standardize setups across multiple machines

In five-axis work especially, the ability to mount parts or fixtures directly to a low-profile plate improves tool access and reduces interference from traditional clamping hardware.

A More Predictable Setup Process
One of the less talked-about benefits of a zero-point system is predictability. When fixtures locate consistently, setup becomes a documented process rather than a variable one. That helps with scheduling, repeatability between operators, and confidence when jobs come back months later.

Instead of treating setup as a one-off task each time, ZPS allows shops to treat it as a controlled, repeatable operation — much like tool changes are handled in the spindle.

If setup time is something you track ZPS is worth a closer look as part of a broader workholding and process-standardization strategy.

by Bernard Martin

Some coolants show up with a lot of marketing noise and disappear a few years later. Others quietly earn their place and just keep running. S 500CF from Hangsterfer’s Metalworking Fluids falls into that second category.

This is not a “new formula” coolant, and that’s actually part of its strength. S 500CF is built on a mature, well-established soluble coolant chemistry that has been refined over decades of real-world machining. Long before water-soluble coolants became common in North American shops, this formulation approach was already being proven in demanding production environments.

When Hangsterfer’s expanded beyond straight cutting oils into soluble coolants, S 500 was one of their first coolant offering and soon there after the "chlorine free" or "CF" variant was developed. That foundation gave them a solid starting point—and it shows in how S 500CF performs today.

At its core, S 500CF is a chlorine-free, water-soluble coolant designed to be easy to live with on the shop floor. It’s non-corrosive, non-toxic, and operator friendly, which matters when machines are running multiple shifts and sumps stay charged for long periods. From a management standpoint, it simplifies coolant selection by covering a wide range of machining operations without needing multiple products for different machines.

Material flexibility is one of the reasons shops stick with it. Hangsterfer’s S 500CF performs consistently in aluminum, carbon and alloy steels, and stainless steels, and it holds up when you move into tougher materials like titanium, nickel-based alloys, and powdered metals. Whether you’re milling, turning, drilling, or tapping, it delivers reliable lubrication and cooling without constant tweaking.

Sump life is another area where this coolant quietly earns its keep. The formulation is stable, resists bacterial growth, and rejects tramp oil well. That means fewer odor issues, cleaner machines, and less time spent chasing coolant problems instead of making parts. For shops running central systems or machines that don’t get drained often, that stability becomes a real cost saver over time.

Day to day, S 500CF doesn’t demand much attention. Mix it correctly, monitor concentration with a refractometer, skim tramp oil, and it stays predictable. That predictability translates directly into consistent surface finish, better tool life, and fewer surprises when jobs change or materials rotate through the shop.

Hangsterfer’s reputation was originally built on straight cutting oils during World War II, where performance and reliability mattered more than marketing claims. That same mindset carries through in S 500CF. It’s a coolant designed to work, stay stable, and support machining operations without becoming a problem of its own.

For shops looking for a proven, high-performance soluble coolant that’s been tested by time rather than trends, Hangsterfer’s S 500CF remains a dependable option.  For more information on Hangesterfer's products get in touch with our team at Factory Tooling Solutions and we can help you with testing as well as on site tech support.

If you’re cutting parts for the aerospace industry, you already know the materials don’t give in easily. Whether it’s titanium, Inconel, composites, or heat-treated alloys, the challenge isn’t just about removing metal—it’s about doing it reliably, efficiently, and within the tight specs your customers demand. That’s where Greenleaf’s aerospace tooling lineup really shows its value.

The catalog below is a pretty comprehensive overview of solutions engineered specifically for aerospace applications. From solid carbide tools and indexable milling systems to ceramic inserts and high-performance coatings, every tool in the lineup is aimed at helping you handle tough materials with more confidence and consistency.

What stands out right away is Greenleaf’s focus on tool life and process stability. Their XSYTIN®-360 solid ceramic line is a great example—it’s built to handle high-speed, high-temperature machining of nickel-based superalloys, and it’s tough enough to extend tool life in the most demanding environments.

On the carbide side, the WSRPF end mills bring variable pitch geometry to the table to minimize chatter, with standard neck reliefs that allow you to get deep into pockets without tool interference—especially helpful when working on thin-walled or contoured aerospace features.

Indexable milling is just as strong. Tools like the FMRPF face mills provide the flexibility to transition between roughing and finishing operations, giving you more control over surface finish and tool life without having to constantly swap out holders. Whether you're roughing structural titanium or finishing composite skins, Greenleaf's indexable are designed to give you predictable performance and stable results.

When it comes to blisks and other turbomachinery parts, tool choice becomes even more critical. In nickel-based alloys, ceramics offer a clear advantage for rough slotting—especially when paired with round positive inserts, which help you move metal aggressively without sacrificing process security.

​For titanium-based blisks, where ceramics won’t cut it, the same insert style still applies, but in coated carbide. And for blades with tight curves where a straight slotting cutter won’t reach, Greenleaf’s custom curved slotting cutters give you a specialized, time-saving solution that can often replace more expensive multi-axis roughing setups.

Holemaking is another area where Greenleaf’s engineering shows up on the shop floor. Whether you're pushing coolant through drills to bore deep titanium spars or using custom step tools to get clean breakouts in stacked aerospace materials, you’ll find options here that cut cycle time while maintaining bore integrity. Their reamers are tuned for dimensional control and repeatability, even on thin-walled parts, and help prevent the kind of finish problems that show up later during final inspection.

For challenging groove and slot applications, Greenleaf’s Powerlock® Top Notch-style inserts are a smart pick. These are build-to-order, so you can dial in exactly what you need. They're especially useful for thin grooves in high-temp materials where tool deflection and vibration are a concern. Both full-nose and flat-nose geometries are available, with standard and custom widths depending on your part specs.

And when you're machining hard superalloys—think Inconel or Waspaloy--Greenleaf’s ceramic and cBN insertsbecome essential. These are made for high-speed turning or milling where you simply can’t afford inconsistent finishes or poor tool wear. Combined with Greenleaf’s high-performance coatings, these inserts offer the kind of heat resistance and tool longevity that help keep costs predictable and quality high.

Even if you're not running huge batches, there’s a lot to like here. Greenleaf’s combination drills and chamfer tools can help you reduce tool stations and program complexity, which means more spindle time and fewer interruptions for manual intervention.

If your shop is pushing the envelope in aerospace machining, this catalog offers a roadmap to improving productivity across your process. Whether you're focused on cycle time reduction, better surface finishes, or just trying to keep your machines running longer between tool changes, there’s something in here designed to move the needle.

The full catalog is embedded below so you can dive deeper. But if you're working with exotic materials, tight tolerances, and the kind of quality standards aerospace customers expect, and you want to take a closer look at what Greenleaf is offering, get in contact with our team here at Factory Tooling Solutions.
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Factory Tooling Solutions is excited to announce our return to the Wichita Industrial Trade Show 2025 (WITS), taking place October 21–23, 2025 at the Century II Performing Arts & Convention Center in Wichita, Kansas. As one of the largest regional manufacturing and machining trade shows in the Midwest, WITS 2025 brings together professionals from across the industrial, aerospace, agricultural, and energy sectors to explore the latest in machine tools, precision tooling, automation, workholding, and metalworking technology.

Held every other year since 1974, the Wichita Tool Show has built a strong reputation as a must-attend event for manufacturers, engineers, and industry leaders throughout Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and surrounding states. Factory Tooling Solutions will be showcasing product innovations from all 19 of our world-class principals, giving attendees a hands-on look at the cutting tools, toolholding systems, workholding, and metalworking fluids that drive manufacturing efficiency and precision.

Our booth will feature a wide-ranging display of tooling innovations and solutions from all of the world-class principals we represent. This is a great opportunity to get hands-on with the latest products featured on our website and speak directly with the FTS team about your application challenges.

Explore the Full Factory Tooling Solutions Lineup
You’ll find product samples and technical displays from across our lineup, including:
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• Boneham Metal Products (BMP) – Dowel pins, drill bushings, and custom precision components
• Carmex – Thread milling tools, DMT carbide, and laydown inserts
• Canela – Lathe holders, ISO boring bars, and turning tools
• Dümmel – Ultra Mini and Swiss Line micro-machining tools
• Everede – Specialty boring bars, indexable ANSI tools, and custom form tools
• Fullerton Tool – High-performance end mills like VMAC, Fury, and Aluma series
• Greenleaf – Advanced ceramic inserts and tooling for titanium and Inconel
• Hangsterfer’s Laboratories – High-performance coolants like 5080, Hardcut GTL, and S 500CF
• HEULE Tool – COFA, BSF, and other automated back chamfering and deburring tools
• Huot – ToolScoots, CNC tool storage systems, drill dispensers
• Jergens Workholding – Ball Lock, 5-Axis vises, tombstones, and quick-change fixturing
• MAPAL – Replaceable head reamers, QTD indexable drills, and PCD tooling
• Nine9 – Spot drills, chamfer mills, engraving and centering tools
• OMG – Right angle heads, speed increasers, and facing heads
• Rego-Fix – Powergrip, ER collets, and RE Cool coolant-through technology
• Riten Industries – Live centers, face drivers, and workholding support products
• Rocky Mountain Twist – Cobalt drills, threaded shank drills, and micro stop countersinks
• Superior Abrasives – Quick-change discs, flap wheels, and convolute finishing products
• Tanis Brush – Disc brushes, bore hone brushes, and abrasive filament tools

See What’s New – and What’s Next
If you’re looking to stay competitive in precision manufacturing, you won’t want to miss this event. Our team will be on-hand to guide you through tooling strategies, help identify cost-saving opportunities, and match your application with the right products.

Whether you’re optimizing for cycle time, surface finish, or material removal rates, FTS has the solutions to help you stay ahead.

We look forward to seeing you in Wichita this October!

If you’ve ever had to babysit an end mill through a cut, you know how frustrating it can be. Tool chatter. Poor chip evacuation. Margins burning up. Now your cycle time’s shot, and you’re standing there wondering if it’s the tool, the speeds, the setup—or all three.

That’s where the Fullerton Tool's Fury comes in. It’s not just another fancy-coated end mill that looks good in a catalog. This cutter was built to run fast, cut hard, and last long—especially in aggressive roughing and high-speed finishing applications.

What Sets the Fury Apart?
Fullerton calls it a high-performance solid carbide end mill, but here’s what that really means for your shop:

• Engineered Core Geometry – You’re getting a stronger core that resists deflection, even when you’re pushing it deep into the material. That means more stability, fewer tool changes, and better wall finish.
• Variable Helix & Index – No one wants to hear that awful harmonics scream. Fury’s variable helix and flute spacing break up the chatter before it starts. That’s good news for both your spindle and your surface finish.
• Coating Options That Work – Whether you’re ripping through alloy steel, titanium, or stainless, Fury offers coatings like AlTiN, ZrN, and nACRo to keep edge integrity intact and temps under control.
• Chip Control – Optimized flute design gives you consistent chip evacuation. That translates to less heat, less galling, and fewer surprises mid-cycle.

What Materials Does It Like?
We’ve seen shops run Fury end mills across a pretty wide range:

• Alloy & carbon steels
• Stainless (300/400 series)
• Titanium & high-temp alloys
• Tool steels & hardened materials
• Cast irons

It’s versatile—but not generic. If your shop runs short- to medium-run production, especially in aerospace, medical, or die/mold work, this cutter can be a workhorse in your holder.

Tool Life and Throughput Matter
Let’s be real: nobody’s switching to a new tool just because the box says “high performance.” It’s all about time on spindle and parts per edge. Shops running the Fury are reporting:

• Up to 30-50% longer tool life compared to commodity cutters
• Significant gains in feed rates when paired with the right coating and toolholder
• Better part consistency across the shift—less downtime for in-process tweaking

Dialing It In
Here’s a tip: The Fullerton Fury thrives in rigid setups and likes a solid toolpath. Pair it with your go-to dynamic milling strategy (Mastercam, Fusion 360, whatever you use), and it’ll reward you with cleaner parts and shorter cycles. If you want top achieve peek performance,  mount it in a hydraulic or shrink-fit holder to get tighter TIR and reduce deflection. That’s where you’ll really see the edge quality shine.

Final Word
If you’re still running basic carbide mills on your vertical or 5-axis mill, it might be time to give the Fullerton Fury a shot. It's built for today's high-speed, high-efficiency shop floor—where every second and every inch of cut matters.

Need help finding the right Fury geometry for your material mix?
​
Reach out to your local Factory Tooling Solutions rep—we’ll help you dial it in.

When you're working in the world of small bores, there’s zero room for error—or oversized tools. That’s why Everede’s Small Boring Bars have become a go-to for machinists tackling precision jobs on Swiss machines and compact CNC lathes. These bars are engineered for tight spaces, light cuts, and ultra-accurate results.
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Small but Mighty
Everede’s small boring bars start at just 0.125" (1/8”) diameter and go up to 0.312", covering a wide range of micro-machining operations. Need to bore a hole barely wider than a matchstick? No problem. Offered in both steel and solid carbide shank options, they’re designed to handle different materials and machining environments.

• Steel Bars: Ideal for lower-speed or light-duty applications where flexibility can be a benefit.
• Carbide Bars: The preferred choice for improved rigidity, vibration resistance, and longer tool life—especially in longer-reach applications.

More Options Than You’d Expect
This isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Everede offers a wide range of bar diameters, overhang lengths, and insert styles to fit just about any small-part boring application. From internal profiling to facing and grooving, there’s a configuration for your specific job.

Versatile Insert Compatibility: Insert Styles That Work With You
The small boring bar line uses industry-standard inserts like CCMT, DCMT, and TPMT, which makes tool replacement easy and inventory more manageable. As an example, bars use common insert styles like TPMT 1.51, 2.52, and 3.52—so you’re not locked into proprietary tooling. That means easier sourcing, less inventory cost, and more flexibility at the spindle. These inserts handle everything from boring and facing to light profiling. Plus, with Everede’s known reliability, you’re getting consistent performance across the board.

Why It Matters
If you’re running tight-tolerance work in aerospace, medical, or any other high-precision field, your tooling needs to be dead-on. Everede’s small boring bars give you the precision you need, in the style your machines can handle—and your parts demand.

You can check out the small boring bar section of the Everede catalog at THIS LINK or get in touch with us and we'll help you find the small boring bar you need.

If you’re still tapping threads the old-school way or burning hours on single-point threading, you might be missing a serious opportunity to improve your process. The Carmex Spiral Mill-Thread® system is purpose-built for shops running CNCs that want cleaner threads, faster cycles, and less tool replacement headache.
This isn’t just a “fancier tap”—it’s a complete, indexable thread milling system that brings versatility and efficiency together in a way that's hard to beat.

5 Reasons Why More Shops Are Making the Switch to Spiral Mill-Thread

1. You don’t throw out the whole tool when it wears down.  This system uses indexable inserts, so all the cutting happens at the insert—not the holder. When the edge is done, just change the insert and keep cutting. No need to re-zero or pull the holder out of the machine. It’s fast, simple, and keeps your spindle turning.
2. It cuts threads the smart way. Instead of forcing a tap through the hole in one shot, Spiral Mill-Thread uses helical interpolation. That means it mills the thread profile gradually, which puts less stress on your machine and your tooling. You get better surface finishes and eliminate the risk of broken taps, especially in blind holes.
3. One insert can cover multiple sizes. As long as you’re sticking with the same thread pitch, a single insert can handle different diameters—internal or external. So instead of stocking up on a dozen different taps, you just need one insert and a few holders to handle most jobs.
4. It’s faster—especially on large threads. With 2.5 to 3 threads being cut per insert, you’re knocking out full threads in fewer passes. That can easily cut your cycle times in half compared to single-point threading or tapping, especially on bigger parts.
5. Coolant-through holders keep chips under control. Most of the toolholders are designed with through-coolant, so you’re getting lubrication right where it’s needed. That’s a big deal when you’re threading deep holes or working with tough materials like stainless or titanium. It helps with chip evacuation, tool life, and finish.

Toolholder Options That Fit How You Run
Carmex  didn’t build this system with just one kind of job in mind. Whether you’re doing short reach, deep bores, or large OD threads, there’s a holder for it:

• SIR/SLR Series – Standard right- and left-hand holders
• SIR-L/SLR-L Series – Long-reach versions when you’re down in a bore
• SIM/SLM Shell Mill Holders – Great for large external threads (think API or big hydraulics)

Inserts That Last

• Grade MT7 – Tough sub-micron carbide with a high-performance PVD coating. It’ll handle steel, stainless, and nickel alloys no problem.
• MXC Coating – Even tougher. Best when you’re pushing hard or dealing with nasty materials.

Threads You Can Cut
You’re not stuck with just standard UN or ISO here. Carmex ​ offers inserts for:

• UN / UNJ
• ISO Metric
• NPT / NPTF
• BSPP / BSPT
• API
• Trapezoidal (DIN 103)
• Specials (just ask)

Who's Using It?

• Job shops love it for cutting down setup and tooling costs.
• Aerospace guys rely on it when they can’t afford a bad thread in titanium.
• Medical manufacturers use it to hit high-tolerance internal threads without tapping.
• Hydraulic shops dig it for pipe threads and deep ports where taps struggle.

Whether you’re running 10 parts or 10,000, this system scales up or down without making your life more complicated.

Bottom Line?
If you’re dealing with broken taps, long thread cycles, or just too much clutter in your tooling drawer, the Carmex ​ Spiral Mill-Thread® system is worth a serious look. You’ll spend less time changing tools, cut better threads, and keep your machine running steady.
Need help figuring out which holder and insert combo fits your machine? Let’s talk. We’ll get you set up with a system that works for your parts, your material, and your cycle times.