Solutions for an age-old quest: Walter FMT
When Renaissance reached its limits
The innovative power of the Renaissance and its impact on the work of engineers to this day has been a recurring theme in this newsletter. However, the focus of this month’s issue brings us to the limits of what even a universal genius like Leonardo Da Vinci could achieve. Although he tried to build a flying machine, he was unable to realize his idea. He lacked a material that made the Wright brothers' first flights possible more than 400 years later and that is becoming increasingly important today and in which the new Walter competence brand Walter FMT is constantly expanding its expertise: Lightweight materials and in particular aluminium.
The property of aluminium that gave the Wright brothers the decisive advantage over earlier attempts at aviation is still the reason for the material's popularity today: it is very light. This not only makes it the perfect construction material not only for aerospace but also for other areas where less is more when it comes to weight – including automotive. Less weight means less fuel, less energy and therefore: less pollution. It goes without saying that this is where the future lies – in general and for Walter’s new brand Walter FMT.
Machining aluminium with diamonds
Created from the merger of Walter and FMT (Frezite Metal Tooling) the brand offers high-quality PCD (polycrystalline diamond) tools for machining aluminium and other lightweight materials. What at first seems like a contradiction– machining light and soft materials with the hardest cutting tool material available – actually makes a lot of sense. Aluminium alloys with a high silicon content, such as those used for electric vehicle construction, are highly abrasive, which inevitably has a negative effect on tool life. Diamond cutting tool materials offer the greatest resistance to abrasion and cutting edge wear. In other words: PCD maintains geometric precision and enables an extremely long tool life.
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Da Vinci lacked aluminium, the Wright brothers lacked Walter FMT
Walter and FMT, two experts in their field, have joined forces to create a brand to dedicate to this important but not easy-to-machine material. FMT's decades of experience in working with PCD tools and Walter's specialty, metal cutting tools of the highest quality, combine to create a strong partner capable of providing each customer with a perfectly tailored solution.
And that is necessary: PCD tools for machining aluminium alloys, brass and composites such as carbon fiber (GFRP) require very specific solutions in most cases. Solutions that would certainly have helped the Wright brothers in their first attempts at flying. They were on the right track with aluminium, but if they had had PCD tools and the help of Walter FMT – they would certainly have flown further than 37 meters.
P.S.
The well-versed among us might be wondering why we didn't mention that only the engine was made of aluminum. But hey, why ruin a good story?