Balzers, Liechtenstein, 30 August 2022 – Oerlikon Balzers, a world-leading Oerlikon technology brand for high-quality surface solutions, has launched the new BALIQ ANTOS coating for industrial taps, which considerably increases production output thanks to homogenous running-in behaviour. Customers benefit from high process reliability and longer tool service life.
BALIQ ANTOS is an extremely hard, smooth and defect-free coating. These properties are necessary in tapping in order to deliver longer tool service life and high process reliability. (Image: Oerlikon Balzers)
After a lengthy production process, the final stage needs to be reliable. Tests show that BALIQ ANTOS offers homogenous running-in behaviour without torque peaks for tapping in stainless steel. (Image: AdobeStock)
Tapping is often the last stage of a lengthy production process. When manufacturing expensive, high-quality components, poor-quality threads or damaged taps can interrupt production or even lead to components being scrapped.
Since its introduction, the S3p technology developed by Oerlikon Balzers has resulted in a whole series of innovative coatings under the brand name BALIQ. The new BALIQ ANTOS coating, specially developed for tapping in stainless steel, is a high-performance alternative to conventional TiN or TiCN coatings. When tested, the surface clearly showed the typical BALIQ properties: extremely hard, smooth and free from defects. And these properties are crucial in tapping in order to deliver considerably longer tool service life and higher process reliability.
BALIQ ANTOS has a multilayer structure: the AlCrN base layer ensures extremely high wear resistance, while the WC/C top coat gives the coating a very dense and smooth surface. This top coat has a low friction coefficient, which ensures even and gentle running in into the pilot hole without high torque peaks. These factors play a key role in reliable machining of steel, and in particular stainless steel.
You can find more information on the BALIQ ANTOS page on our website: https://www.oerlikon.com/balzers/baliq-antos
