CNC cutting tools for aluminum alloy processing are the most commonly used tools in mechanical manufacturing, some of which are also used manually. Do you know what factors need to be considered when choosing cutting tools?
When selecting CNC cutting tools for processing aluminum alloys, the first thing to consider is whether their material properties meet the following conditions:
1. High hardness
The hardness of the tool material must be higher than that of the workpiece material being processed, otherwise, under high temperature conditions, the sharp geometric shape of the tool cannot be maintained, which is the basic feature that tool materials should possess.
2. Adequate strength and toughness
The material in the cutting part of the tool must withstand significant cutting and impact forces during cutting. Generally, the bending strength (unit: Pa) of the tool material is used to represent its strength, and the impact toughness (unit: J/m2) is used to represent its toughness, which reflects the ability of the tool material to resist brittle fracture and edge collapse.
3. High wear resistance and heat resistance
The higher the hardness of the tool material, the better its wear resistance. The wear resistance of cutting tool materials is also related to the chemical composition in the metallographic structure, the properties, quantity, particle size, and distribution of hard points. The wear resistance and heat resistance of cutting tool materials are closely related. Its heat resistance is usually measured by its ability to maintain high hardness at high temperatures, known as high-temperature hardness, or red hardness. The higher the high-temperature hardness, the better the heat resistance, and the stronger the ability of the tool material to resist plastic deformation and wear at high temperatures. Tool materials with poor heat resistance may experience rapid wear and even plastic deformation due to a significant decrease in hardness at high temperatures, resulting in the loss of their cutting ability.
4. Good thermal conductivity
The thermal conductivity of tool materials is represented by thermal conductivity [in W/(m · k)]. A high thermal conductivity indicates good thermal conductivity, and the heat capacity generated during cutting is easily transmitted, thereby reducing the temperature of the cutting part and reducing tool wear.
5. Good craftsmanship and economy
In order to facilitate manufacturing, tool materials are required to have good machinability, including forging, welding, cutting, heat treatment, grindability, etc. Economy is one of the important indicators for evaluating and promoting the application of new tool materials.
6. Adhesion resistance
Prevent the molecules between the workpiece and the tool material from adsorbing and bonding under high temperature and pressure.
7. Chemical stability
Refers to the inability of tool materials to undergo chemical reactions with surrounding media at high temperatures.
