The Arsenal From November/December 2025

Defense-grade 3D printing

With rising demand for secure, resilient, and decentralized manufacturing, the Secure Line marks a major step forward in turning additive manufacturing (AM) into a deployable tactical asset. The S6 Secure and S8 Secure combine industrial performance with hardened security features designed to meet modern defense IT standards.

Designed for operations in extreme and temperate conditions, Secure Line printers offer air-gapped, USB-only workflows, with no Wi-Fi, no external cameras, and no unverified third-party devices, eliminating common vectors for espionage, data theft, or remote intrusion.

The S6 Secure and S8 Secure are engineered to bring industrial AM capabilities from the lab to the field. With compact form factors and rugged construction, they enable reliable operation in mobile units, military bases, and naval deployments and rapid on-demand production of critical parts and tools, along with minimized downtime and reduced dependency on vulnerable supply chains.

Powered by the UltiMaker Cheetah motion planner, high flow print cores, and an improved feeder system, S6 Secure and S8 Secure deliver up to 4x the productivity with improved print quality. Combined with the range of engineering-grade materials in the UltiMaker Marketplace and multi-material printing capabilities, the Secure Line offers material flexibility in a secure environment for complex applications.

Each Secure Line product is produced in limited batches and tailored to the specific requirements of defense industry users.

UltiMaker
https://ultimaker.com

CVD coated carbide grades

The CA410K/CA415K CVD coated carbide grades are a next-generation solution for cast iron machining. Combining advanced coating layers, a robust carbide substrate, and an extensive range of chipbreakers, these grades deliver exceptional wear resistance, fracture resistance, and long-term stability for a wide range of applications.

The CA410K grade is optimized for continuous machining operations, providing wear resistance at elevated cutting speeds. In contrast, the CA415K is tailored for interrupted to heavy-interrupted machining, ensuring maximum cutting stability under demanding conditions.

The developed coating technology features optimized rake and flank face properties to balance wear and fracture resistance. Its black rake face includes a thick, highly uniform alumina layer to reduce wear, suppress delamination, and minimize fracturing, while the gold flank face incorporates a hard surface layer, alumina layer, and TiCN layer to enhance wear resistance and make used edges easy to identify. Underneath, a tough carbide substrate improves adhesion, suppresses delamination, and resists cracking for long tool life even in harsh cast iron cutting environments.

CA410K/CA415K series’ chipbreaker designs ensure optimal cutting performance across multiple cast iron applications. New mesh processing technology further enhances coating adhesion and chipping resistance, extending tool life under high-speed and interrupted conditions.

KYOCERA Precision Tools
www.kyoceraprecisiontools.com

5-axis CNC grinding center

The MC7 5-axis machine is a versatile CNC grinding center designed for production featuring a coolant supply rotating 360° around the grinding wheel. This design allows for a greater variety of axis combinations for mounting workpieces and enables the grinding wheel to move around them. The nozzle system’s positioning on the tool and its process-optimized coolant supply ensures effective operation and reduced cycle times.

Combined with various table variants, this technology opens new possibilities for efficiently machining complex geometries. It reduces set-up times, increases production efficiency and precision, and minimizes machining time by combining different grinding processes. Another feature of the MC7 is its CAD/CAM programming, an important prerequisite for targeted process development of complex components. The machine can be loaded automatically via multiple access interfaces using a robot or loader system, or manually.

Automatic tool changer

Thanks to C.O.R.E. and software, the MC7 is user-friendly and offers a wide range of digital features and automation options, even for those without programming knowledge. The optional tool changer (up to 72 positions) is also easy to operate. As well as grinding wheels, it can also accommodate milling cutters, drills, and measuring tools.

As well as high functionality, the development team placed great emphasis on a compact design. Consequently, despite the increased range of functions, the footprint is virtually unchanged from previous generations. The MC7 benefits from a robust construction offering high rigidity and large guide distances to ensure reliable, reproducible accuracy. High axis speeds of up to 50m/min on the X and Z axes reduce non-productive times, further shortening the machining time.

United Grinding North America
https://www.grinding.com/