How to Choose the Right Cutting Tools for Your Production Machining Needs
Navigatingthe cuttingtools world can be overwhelming, especiallywhen your production machining needs precision and efficiency. Don't worry this guide will help you choose the right cutting tools to optimize your production process.
*Understand Your Workpiece Material
Firstand foremost, you mustbe familiarwiththe materialyou're workingwith. The workpiece material determines the cutting tool's properties, such as hardness, toughness, and wear resistance.
*Match Tool Material to Workpiece Material
Selecting an effective cutting tool material is critical to running efficient machining operations in production environments. Various materials commonlyused for cuttingtools offer their ownset ofbenefits;when choosing one for yourself, pay close attention to features like hardness, toughness and wear resistance when making your selection.
* Consider Tool Geometry
The geometry of your cutting tool influences factors like cutting forces, chip formation, and heat generation. Specific features to focus on include:
Rake angle: Affects chip formation and cutting forces. Positive rake angles create thinner chips and require less cutting power, making them suitable for soft materials. Negative rake angles produce thicker chips and can handle higher cutting forces, making them ideal for more rigid materials.
Relief angle: Determines the amount of material in contact with the workpiece, affecting heat generation and tool wear. Smaller relief angles increase contact, resulting in higher heat generation, while larger relief angles reduce contact and heat generation.
Flute geometry: Impacts chip evacuation and cutting forces. Straight flutes are suitable for general-purpose applications, while helical flutes enhance chip evacuation and reduce cutting forces in more challenging materials.