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How to extend tool life in CNC machining operations

Every day, we need to produce metal and plastic machined parts in a variety of different geometries. They have been widely used in different industries. Such as medical, automotive, aerospace and electronic equipment.

Until now, we have been proud to be able to machine precision and high quality products for our global customers, whether you have thought about why they can be machined so perfectly, just because of good and skilled operators and advanced equipment . Of course, they are essential for machining high-quality products, even for professional CNC machining manufacturers. At the same time, have you considered that good tools are equally important for machining suppliers, which is the basis of operation.

A good tool can not only process precise and high-quality products, but also have high hardness and wear resistance, necessary bending strength and good machinability, and is not easy to deform. Of course, we need to further prevent more The problem is before the CNC program and production.

Tips for Protecting and Extending Tool Life in CNC Machining Operations

Causes of tool wear

hard point wear

Because the workpiece material contains hard spots (such as carbides, nitrides, oxides) and many chip edges, the surface of the tool will be worn, and the wear of high-speed steel tools is more obvious than that of carbide tools. At cutting speeds, all tools have hard-point wear, so this is also the main cause of low-speed tool wear.

Adhesive wear CNC machining operations

Adhesion refers to the phenomenon of "cold welding" between the tool and the workpiece material under sufficient pressure and high temperature, which is the result of the adsorption of fresh surface atoms on the friction surface. When this bond is torn and removed due to relative motion, tool wear can result if the bond occurs on one side of the tool.

Cutting temperature is the main factor affecting adhesive wear. The higher the cutting temperature, the more severe the adhesive wear.

Oxidative wear

At a certain cutting temperature, the tool material and the surrounding medium will produce chemical components, forming a layer of low-hardness compounds on the surface of the tool and being carried away by chips, accelerating tool wear, which is called chemical wear, and this is also the reason why diamond tools cannot be used in air. One of the main reasons for cutting ferrous metals.

How to protect and extend tool life in CNC machining operations

In fact, tool wear is related to factors such as geometric angle, cutting force, cutting heat and cutting amount, so the durability and service life of the tool can be extended through human subjective efforts.

Improved tool geometry

The tool angle and blade shape will directly affect the change of cutting force. For example, if the rake angle increases, the chip deformation will be small; if the cutting is light, the cutting force and heat will decrease. On the premise of ensuring the knife has sufficient strength, a larger rake angle should be used as much as possible, and the length of the blade should be increased for cutting, so that the cutting heat is relatively dispersed, and the cutting temperature will also decrease.

Choose a reasonable cutting amount

The cutting amount will directly affect the durability of the tool. When the cutting depth and feed rate are too large, the cutting force will also increase, so the tool wears quickly; when the cutting speed is high, the wear between the tool and the workpiece will also be accelerated. Therefore, choosing a reasonable cutting amount will also prolong the service life of the tool.

Use a cooling lubricant

Cooling lubricants can absorb and take away most of the heat in the cutting area, improve cooling conditions, reduce the temperature between the tool and the workpiece, thereby reducing wear and extending tool life. And it can also prevent workpiece dimensional errors due to thermal deformation.

Reasonable selection of tool materials before CNC machining operations

The workpiece material and processing conditions have a great influence on the cutting performance of the tool, so when processing different materials, we need to know how to select the appropriate material to meet the cutting requirements.

Strengthen daily maintenance

It is necessary to strengthen the daily maintenance of the production site, especially the tool clamping device, workbench, tool storage, etc. Regularly maintain the tool accuracy and confirm the tightening of the screws of the tool and the clamping device. During installation and disassembly, we also need to remove the smudges on the parts in time.

In any case, extending tool life is crucial for every CNC machine manufacturer, because it not only increases the speed and accuracy of parts production, but also saves production costs.