Wirtgen America's Generation X point-attack cutting tools are enhancing the performance and cost-efficiency of cold milling machines, resulting in higher productivity and better performance in the cut.

Wear resistance has been improved by optimizing the composition of the carbide material, according to the manufacturer.

Having the right mixture of coarse and fine tungsten carbide is important in simultaneously determining both the wear resistance and the breaking strength of the carbide tip. The cylindrical part of the carbide tip is reinforced by the relocation of carbide material in the tool tip, as revealed by the notching at the base.

In this way, the “intelligent” carbide tip ensures higher utilization of the carbide material and maximizes the service life of the pick. Productivity is boosted by around 17 percent by the prolonged, high penetrating ability.

Because milled particles penetrating between the toolholder and wear plate always produce an abrasive effect, the centering cone on the bottom side of the wear plate has been increased by 140 percent, thus reducing the tipping movement of the tool during the cutting process. This reduces the ingress of milled particles and extends the service life of the toolholder in relation to longitudinal wear.

Also, the outer edge of the wear plate has been made 75 percent stronger. This improves protection of the toolholder when milling potentially abrasive asphalt material.

The Twin-Stop clamping sleeve specially developed by Wirtgen — with two stops longitudinally arranged in parallel — ensures limited axial backlash, and drastically reduces the risk of deformed sleeves, as well as the number of broken tools.

Optimized positioning of the stops in Generation X reduces the risk of shafts breaking by a further 45 percent, according to the manufacturer.