What are cutting tools? They are tools used to cut through all kinds of hard materials, be it metal or glass. Time was when cutting tools were made of iron with carborundum or loose emery as the abrasive. Today, tools are usually made with the working edge embedded with small diamond particles. From cutting speeds of maybe five times more than ordinary machining, today’s advanced tools and holders mean faster rpms and specific materials that go for specific applications. The latest in cutting tool holders is made of a new alloy called Ninitol, made from nickel and titanium.
From aluminum to hardened steels, it’s been a rapid move for cutting tools. High speed machines ensure increased production where deep die-casting dies are concerned. It also ensures better hardness in shallow forging dyes in tool steels. These tools cut down on expensive grinding time and electrical discharge machining. Though tooling constitutes just 3% of total productivity in manufacturing units, keeping abreast with the latest technology and using the latest cutting tools can mean accelerated production. This requires a thorough understanding of the properties of the tools and the surfaces that need to be cut.
Most cutting tool manufacturers encourage manufacturers to use the latest technology and offer training and familiarization through training programs, manuals and training through Web sites. They realize that technology in this area can only be driven from the users’ end. Honing in on a machining process requires a lot of planning and taking into account a whole host of variables. These include the speed of cutting, the feed rate, the depth required and the tool path. The choice of a sequence of machining operations could have a dramatic effect on the output.
And what are the methods adopted to make cutting tools? Since they are made of super hard materials, conventional materials mean slow work. The latest process is the water jet-guided laser that takes cutting speeds up to 15 mm/minute!
What are the benefits in a wider context? Since machining is so essential to manufacturing, it would, from an overall view, give the whole country a cutting edge in manufacturing.
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Metal Cutting Tools
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Metal cutting lathes first reared their head in the early part of the 18th century in Europe. In less than a hundred years, these lathes were common in England and Europe. The moment direct human effort was removed from the shaping and cutting process, the...
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Cutting Tool Inserts
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Most cutting tools have replaceable attachments. These are called cutting tool inserts. They can be of various shapes and sizes – round, triangular, square, rectangular, rhombic, five-sided or even eight-sided. Cutting tool inserts are used in varied applications – from cutting and drilling to boring,...
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Glass Cutting Tools
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Glass cutting tools today do a lot more than cut glass. There are tools for drilling and polishing as well. There is a wide variety available for industrial as well as home use. As far as actual cutting goes, the term could be misleading because...
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Stainless Steel Machining
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Stainless steel machining refers to the process of cutting steel sheets or bars into predetermined shapes for use as components in various industries such as aerospace, automotive, shipping, and others. Stainless steel machining can be done either manually or with the help of automatic machining...
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Laser Machining
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Laser machining technology uses high intensity laser beams of varying widths for a variety of applications such as slotting, cutting, and creating holes. It can be used in fabrication of different types of materials such as metals, plastics, vinyl, glass, marble, and graphite. Other materials...
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Die Cutting Machines
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Die cutting machines are used to convert sheet or web materials into desired shapes. These are used to process rubber sheets, non-woven textiles and woven cloth. Basically, there are two types of die cutting machines – rotary die cutters and clicker presses. Automated die cutting...
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Custom Die Cutting
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Custom die cutting provides the right shape for any application. It is mainly used in the making of coins and medals. Also, it is used in industrial applications such as the production of polystyrene, polyurethane and polyethylene foam products. Custom die cutting offers freedom to...
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Custom Machining
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Custom machining in the industrial context refers to the separation of a material from a work piece in the form of chips. However, it is called metal cutting when the work pieces to be machined are metals. Custom machining process has various categories such as...
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Machining Jobs
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Machining refers to the basic process of cutting parts out of a work piece according to predetermined size and shape. Machining jobs are performed using different types of machining techniques such as laser machining, wire electrical discharge machining (EDM), Chemical etching machining, metal stamping machining,...
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Medical Machining
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Medical machining process is used for manufacturing different types of medical tools such as scissors, clamps, surgical knives, syringes, and others. Medical instruments manufacturing uses advanced machining processes that help in producing precision medical tools and equipment required in the medical industry. Medical machining involves...