WIDIA Vari Family Of Tools Takes Efficiency To The Extreme

For milling, drilling, or tapping, VariMill , VariDrill , and VariTap  deliver high performance and real economy

Extreme challenges are daily fare for job shops. To address the unique needs of job shop customers and the distributors who serve them, the WIDIA Vari family of tools is specifically engineered to be versatile, easy to choose, easy to use, and deliver superior results in a wide range of applications and materials.

Unique Tool Design
For WIDIA customers worldwide, the VariMill , VariDrill , and VariTap  have lived up to WIDIA’s theme of “Extreme Challenges, Extreme Results.” These tools are specifically engineered to address the needs of the end user, providing versatile tools that are capable of attacking a varying range of applications and work materials with high-performance results.

“The job shop mentality is tackling multiple small-lot assignments under tight deadlines,” says Dr.-Ing. Tilo Krieg, Director, Holemaking and Solid Endmilling Products at WIDIA. “Their expertise and reputations depend on performance, often having to exceed past results while leaving enough margin to make money. They know they have to have tools that work.”

Unique Portfolio Value Proposition
While WIDIA’s VariMill, VariDrill, and VariTap deliver convenience and results for the customer, the concept behind the Vari portfolio was conceived with the WIDIA distributor in mind.

When armed with the Vari family of tools, WIDIA distributors can meet a variety of unique customer needs and applications with one drilling, milling, and tapping product line. The portfolio is designed to cover every diameter, length/diameter ratio, and coolant option that the end user might need.

Therefore, a limited amount of Vari tooling stock can address a wide variety of customer needs. By reducing the need for custom or specific drills, mills, or taps, WIDIA Distributors are able to streamline their on-hand inventory without sacrificing their ability to respond quickly to a customer’s unique tooling needs. Simply put, Vari tools from WIDIA are a complete package of high-performance tooling solutions that get the job done: use VariDrill to drill the hole, VariMill to complete the surface finish of the workpiece, and VariTap to finish the job.

Game Changer
From its advanced point geometry designed to reduce chipping on the cutting edge to its “marginless” design resulting in noticeably less friction, the WIDIA VariDrill  is a new multi-application drill engineered to extended tool life across a wide range of materials, including steels, stainless steels, cast irons, non-ferrous materials, and high-temperature alloys. Its unique design positions the VariDrill as the perfect solution for multipurpose drilling operations in small to medium job shops and maintenance areas.

WIDIA VariDrill also offers the broadest portfolio of standard drill configurations available on the market. The VariDrill portfolio features 3xD, 5xD non-coolant, and 3xD, 5xD and 8xD coolant-through lengths in a diameter range from 1,0 - 20,0 mm (.0394” - .7874”).

Custom Performance in a Standard Product Line

Following the success of WIDIA’s VariMill I  and VariMill II  end mills, the new VariMill II ER  offers the superior performance of its predecessors, providing the ability to rough and finish with one tool in slotting, ramping, and plunging operations. VariMill II ER solid carbide end mills are engineered with eccentric relief (ER) for greater edge strength, higher feeds, and higher metal removal rates. Features include a unique design with unequally spaced flutes, a proprietary core shape and end geometry, and a coating that enables extremely heavy cuts and exceptional tool life while virtually eliminating tool chatter. VariMill II ER is especially effective in roughing and semi-finishing applications in titanium, stainless steels, high-temp alloys, nickel- and carbon-based alloys and is the first off-the-shelf tool to offer SAFE-LOCK  by Haimer, which greatly reduces pull-out risk. Due to its success as a popular and effective custom solution, WIDIA now is making the VariMill II ER end mill available as an option in its standard product portfolio, available in diameters from 10–25mm (3/8–1").

Determined to Be the Best
Field tests confirm that the WIDIA VariTap  delivers the best of both worlds: superior tapping performance in multiple work materials without sacrificing part quality or tool life. Drawing on more than 140 years of application experience, WIDIA has a VariTap for all tapping conditions.

VariTap’s design engineering includes a proprietary spiral point geometry that lowers tapping torque, extending tool life while efficiently driving chips forward in through holes. Optimized spiral flute geometry aids chip evacuation, reducing bird-nesting in blind holes. VariTap also can be used with all styles of tap holders including:tension/compression holders, rigid holders, and synchronous tap holders.