Tool Manufacturing
In tool manufacturing, devices, measuring tools, and special tools are manufactured for equipping industrial production facilities. These tools are used, for example, to cast, punch or bend plastics or metals.
In our series production here at VKF Renzel, specialised tools are needed to produce a high volume of product in an efficient and timely manner. The tools for the production facilities are as varied as the components and objects to be produced by machine. In most cases, each tool is a one-off.
In the first step, our research and design team use these tool drawings to create a prototype of the required tool. This prototype component is tested according to the requirements to be fulfilled. If necessary, the design data are adapted. With the help of a machine tool, the actual special tool is then manufactured in a computer-aided CNC process.
Several weeks or months are needed in tool manufacturing to produce a tool.
Process of Creating Tools
There are many different kinds of tools, and to manufacture a tool involves several steps. To maintain a high-quality finished product, each step must be carefully and skillfully completed. Some of the steps included in tool manufacturing include:
From the Idea
to the finished product!
Design: this step requires determinng the required shape, size, material and any other special requirements for the tool being made. This process can be accomplished using either CAD or can be done manually.
Material Selection: this step is to ensure that the material of the tool you are designing can withstand the uses and stresses for which it will be used. Common materials used for tools include stell, carbide and ceramics.
Machining: in this step, the tool is shaped using specialised equipment, such as 3D printing, milling machines, grinders, etc. Precision during this step is very important because even small errors can affect the final tool being made.
Heat Treatment: rapidly heating a tool to a specific temperature and then cooling it down can improve your tool's durability, hardness, and strength. These factors are important for a tool to have in order to resist wear and damage.
Finishing: finishing treatments can include grinding, polishing, etc in order to finish the tools surface. This can be done for dimensional accuracy, so that the tool is a precise as possible for the need it is used for.
Assembly: after all of the parts of a tool have gone through the above steps, all of those parts are then assembled. This assembly can be accomplished through welding, brazing, or fastening the components together.
Testing: after the tool is finished, it is then used to see if it meets the required and inteded specifications.
Maintenance: Once a tool is in use and properly working, it needs to be maintained so that it remains in proper working order. Parts need to be cleaned and lubricated, if needed, and if a part is worn, it needs to be replaced. If a tool is needed for cutting, the tool needs to be sharpened to maintain sharpness.
Different Types of Tools in the Manufacturing Business
The tools that we make and use here are essential for the production of our high-quality products. In order to produce and manufacture goods in an efficient and effective manner, our specialised tools need to meet certain standards so that they are precise and accurate.
There are many different kinds of manufacturing tools, all designed for specific tasks. Some of the most common tools include:
Cutting Tools
Forming Tools
Assembly Tools
Measuring Tools
- Used to remove material or shorten a workpiece, usually by by shearing, chipping, or grinding
- Must be hard and tough enough to withstand the stresses of cutting
- Cutting tools include drills, grinders, milling cutters, and saws
- Used to shape a workpiece into a desired form
- Tools must be strong and durable enough to withstand the pressure of forming
- Forming tools include tools such as dies, molds, punches, and vacuums
- Used to assemble final products
- Must be strong enough and corrosion resistant to provide grip between the tool and product
- Assembly tools include tools such as screwdrivers, pliers, and wrenches
- Measuring tools are used to measure dimensions of the product
- These tools must be precise and durable enough to provide accurate readings
- Measuring tools include calipers, gauges, and micrometers
Aluminium Processing
- Used to remove material or shorten a workpiece, usually by by shearing, chipping, or grinding
- Must be hard and tough enough to withstand the stresses of cutting
- Cutting tools include drills, grinders, milling cutters, and saws
Vacuum Forming
- Used to shape a workpiece into a desired form
- Tools must be strong and durable enough to withstand the pressure of forming
- Forming tools include tools such as dies, molds, punches, and vacuums
Assembly Tools
- Used to assemble final products
- Must be strong enough and corrosion resistant to provide grip between the tool and product
- Assembly tools include tools such as screwdrivers, pliers, and wrenches
Measuring Tools
- Measuring tools are used to measure dimensions of the product
- These tools must be precise and durable enough to provide accurate readings
- Measuring tools include calipers, gauges, and micrometers