Published 09/14/2026

A New Angle on Tool Changes

On this large turn-mill, cutters are exchanged automatically through the machine’s standard tool magazine on angle heads used for internal machining of long parts.

Derek Korn

Editor-in-Chief, Production Machining magazine

While traditional angular heads typically require manual tool changes, the new WFL solution introduces a fully automated approach. Source: Production Machining

Automatically changing cutting tool assemblies from an ATC magazine on CNC machining centers is nothing new. However, WFL Millturn Technologies shows a new advancement for swapping tools in and out of the angle heads used on its large-scale multitasking machines, those tools being stored in and accessed from the machine’s central ATC.

The M70 Millturn serves as the demonstration platform for this newly developed automated angular head technology. Internal machining has long been one of the most challenging disciplines in metalcutting. Components featuring deep cavities, internal pockets, ribs, radii, threads and seating surfaces often require multiple specialized tools and extensive manual intervention. These challenges become even more demanding when machining lightweight, thin-walled structures, particularly in aluminum.

To address these requirements, WFL has developed a new angular head concept that fundamentally differs from conventional systems. While traditional angular heads typically require manual tool changes and are often limited in speed and rigidity, the new WFL solution introduces a fully automated approach. Tools are exchanged automatically through the machine’s standard tool magazine, eliminating manual handling and enabling uninterrupted machining processes. (And keep in mind that the angle heads themselves are also automatically changed out and stored in a their own pick-up magazine.)

The development of the new angular head was driven by customer requirements in lightweight manufacturing, where large aluminum components frequently require extreme material removal. It is not unusual for a raw workpiece weighing more than 100 kg to be transformed into a thin-walled finished component with only a fraction of its original mass. Such parts require high cutting speeds and precise force control to avoid deformation while maintaining economic productivity.

To meet these demands, WFL engineered the solid steel prism angular head to operate at spindle speeds as high as 12,000 rpm in continuous operation. An integrated oil-mist lubrication system offers thermal stability and long bearing life, enabling sustained high-performance machining under production conditions. The result is a solution that combines high-speed capability, rigidity and automation in a way the company says was previously unavailable for many internal machining applications.