Intelligent tool systems

Franz-Josef Pokolm began developing and manufacturing milling cutters for customers in the tool, mold, die and machine-building sectors back in the 1980s. In 1994, together with Gerhard Maurus and Georg Roth he founded Pokolm Frästechnik GmbH. Just three years later, the company set up shop on a new site with its own production facilities, administrative offices, warehouse and training room. 

Embedded insert seats ensure easy installation and stable fixing of the cutting insert in the carrier. Axial and radial cutting forces occurring during milling act on the entire carrier and not just on the insert. Additional double clamping increases stability even under extreme loads. As a result, longer tool life and higher feed rates are achieved with stronger teeth.

Pokolm has a proven track record in offering apprenticeships and has done so for more than 25 years. The company is growing steadily and sustainably and is aware of its great responsibility toward employees and their jobs. With an apprenticeship at Pokolm, young people can take a strong first step toward a successful future. 

Trigaworx® from Pokolm was the first pure high-feed milling cutter ‘Made in Germany’. As specialists for large working depths and deep contours, Trigaworx® indexable insert milling cutters offered maximum cutting performance during roughing. The milling system was economical thanks to a three-edged indexable insert.

The Duoplug® clamping system developed by Pokolm offers optimum stability alongside maximum precision and radial run-out accuracy. In contrast to conventional screw-in tools, the holding forces between the tool and the holding system are spread over the entire surface of the shrink fit as well as large parts of the thread. 

With Uniworx, Pokolm introduces an indexable insert milling cutter that is a universal milling cutter for fine machining. It’s hard cutting material made of cubic boron nitride (CBN) helps to machine workpieces without any wear or tool changes.

Two new indexable milling cutters are launched in 2004. Mirroworx® has been impressing all industries with mirror-like surface results ever since. Waveworx®, a champion in tool and mold making in particular, has proven itself as a specialist for roughing work.

Slotworx® shoulder and slotting cutters are highly versatile. With outstanding stability, low susceptibility to vibration and maximum precision, the system offers the right cutting insert for every machining application. Among other things, a high-feed insert is available that can transform the shoulder and slotting cutter into a high-feed milling cutter in no time at all.

Quadworx® indexable milling cutters rule the roost when it comes to high feed milling. The tool system stands out from the competition with maximum process reliability at the highest material removal rates. Quadworx® stands for more machine capacity and lower workpiece costs. By switching to a 90° insert, the high-feed cutter is transformed into a shoulder and slotting cutter. 

Since 2009, the Pokolm Academy has been actively thinking in terms of new solutions, making good things even better and passing on knowledge to where it counts. Workshops, seminars and customized training courses provide extensive product knowledge and industry-specific expertise, giving customers a decisive knowledge advantage over the competition. 

Driven by the question of how to utilize an indexable insert one hundred per cent, Pokolm developed the Spinworx® tool system. The cutting edges of the self-rotating insert are fully utilized. At the same time, the design also solves the thermal problem that arises during machining. As a result, the service life of the tool is increased by a factor of ten.

The Planworx® indexable milling cutter is an all-in-one solution for face milling applications. This highly economical milling tool is a universal tool for all industries and master’s even the most demanding tasks, ensuring high productivity across the board. The optimized cutting-edge geometry helps to minimize temperatures in the cutting material and ensure even chip removal. 

Finworx® is an all-rounder when it comes to contour and copy milling. These tools are ideal for edging, multi-pass milling on free-form surfaces and working with long tool overhangs. The rhombic insert cutters are characterized by particularly smooth running, even in hard-to-reach areas such as in pockets and corner areas. 

Slotworx® HP is a new member of the Slotworx® product family. The high-feed milling cutters are suitable for a wide range of roughing applications. As a guarantee for maximum performance and efficiency, this high-performance indexable milling cutter from Pokolm has a high number of teeth in conjunction with a very small diameter. 

For efficient chip removal and cooling, the volume flow rate and discharge velocity of Coolcap® holders are specially adapted to the different cutter diameters and different cooling media. The effective direct cooling method enables higher machining parameters and chips are reliably removed from the cutting zone. 

The pneumatic cold forging tool Forgefix® is a useful addition to the production process when it comes to the precise mechanical treatment of workpiece surfaces. With Forgefix®, surface qualities of Ra 0.08 can be achieved effectively, reliably and cost-effectively. 

With Uniworx® PLUS milling cutters, corner radius and high-feed inserts can be used on the same tool body. Maximum process reliability, a long service life and maximum cutting rates are guaranteed with both types of inserts. The cutting tool can therefore be used highly economically and flexibly for steel roughing and finishing operations. 

With Squareworx®, Pokolm launches another multifunctional milling tool onto the market. The economical indexable milling cutter was developed for a wide range of applications. With one and the same insert geometry, Squareworx® can be used as either a shoulder and slotting cutter or as a chamfer cutter.

Fourworx® indexable milling cutters are high-feed cutters that deliver four times more performance in the rough and medium machining of different materials. Sophisticated tool and insert geometries guarantee the high performance of this economical tool system and reduce stresses in the tool by fifty per cent. 

The Slotworx® product family gains a new member: Slotworx® VF is launched for the finishing of workpieces at high feed rates. With a special insert geometry, the tools are ideal for machining end faces and vertical walls and achieve machining depths equivalent to ten times the tool’s diameter.

Pokolm starts offering a selection of tried-and-tested milling tools and holders in a vibration-damping version. If highly dynamic or highly rigid machines with little damping are used in production, this product series can be used to reduce spindle wear, prevent tool breakage and produce better surface results. 

Since 2022, customers and partners have been able to experience the Pokolm product range in the company’s virtual showroom, regardless of location and opening hours. Different milling solutions are depicted virtually with an interactive machine pool and industry-specific components. Customers can receive live expert advice while viewing the virtual models in action. 

Pokolm premium tools have been easily accessible to the American metalworking market since the beginning of 2024. The American subsidiary Pokolm USA Inc., founded in 2023, sells the company’s innovative indexable milling cutters and other cutting tools through its own Customer Service Center in Fort Worth, Texas. 

Pokolm provides manufacturing companies with a new go-to tool for efficient production: Gravfix is a dot peen marker that has been developed for a wide range of marking applications on different materials. This flexible tool performs engravings precisely and at high speed.