The Cutting Tools: A Proof Iron Sharpens Iron

Let us have a look at the cutting tools.

^{cutting tools: image taken by me @adetola}

Cutting tools are like the backbone or the instrument used in shaping out how you want your tool to the shape and size you want. It is the one that reduces the size and withstands the friction between the contact of the Cutting tool and the workpiece. The Cutting tools are strong and corrosion resistant metals which are used in reshaping of different types of metal. From the types of metals or materials used as a cutting tool from ceramics to diamond, they have some embedded properties which cannot be seen but noticed these are.

Hardness

As a man, you would say you are Hard maybe due to your physical presence of abs and muscles, but hardness goes beyond that. One can be hard when everywhere is calm and everyone would think oh! He is a hard guy. But what really happens in a bar fight does the muscle man wait to defend himself or runs away. F he waits then we can say he is hard to an extent but if he runs then he is not hard enough for the task. This same guy that waited for the battle fight might get into a gunfight and disappear before the first gunshot, if he doesn’t we can say he is hard to another level but if he runs then he is not hard up to that level. The same goes on and on.

We actually talked about this from the nail experiment we performed earlier about the nail being harder than the wood. But hardness goes beyond physical appearance or dropping it and not breaking it is a matter of the metal being able to withstand breaking or deforming when it is hot, this terminology in engineering is called hot hardness. This is like the next form of hardness just like the guy in the bar fight and gunfight, these metals must be able to do their jobs at high temperatures as well as at room temperature. This feature or property determines a good material for a cutting tool. But not only hot hardness let’s move to the next

Toughness

^{cutting tool: image taken by me @adetola}

The man in the example above we can say such man isn’t hard, but hardness is different from being tough. Let us assume or say he really got into the bar fight and he gets hit but withstands the pain to hit back the opponent. Just like in the moves the opponent feels the weight behind his punch and runs away as soon as he gets up. Yeah! we all shout at the cinema and we laugh just because he runs away like a dog with its tail between his legs. There is something here, he gets courageous to pick up a fight because he is a hard man, but he can’t withstand a hit after he threw the first punch.

Such opponent is said to be hard but because he failed after receiving a hit from the muscular guy (you) and runs away he is not tough. But you, on the other hand, being courageous to wait and not run from his threats and even withstand his bunch you are hard and tough. Therefore, it is easy to see that a material can be hard not be tough likewise it could be the other way around. (please do not get into a bar or gunfight as these are just used as explanations. It is not a test for hardness or toughness of man).

A material is said to be tough when it engages the workpiece and does not fail in action. The lack of toughness in a material could lead to serious machining headaches when you are working as the material (i.e. cutting tool) would always break or fracture in an operation. Trust me you don’t want to experience this when machining.winks

Wear resistance

Watching game of thrones is what most people did worldwide, and we can’t just get enough of it as the episodes keep winding down and down. This is because the game of Thrones is very much interesting and the attention of people viewing it that it has got. In fact, most game of thrones viewers always says the season is too short and deserves to be more episodes longer.

This can be likened to your cutting tool and the job it does, as interesting as the game of thrones is to viewers so is the cutting tool to the machinist. A machinist best enjoys his job when he doesn’t have to grind his tool several times before he finishes just one turning operation. It can be compared to having to wait for another exciting episode f game of thrones.
A cutting tool should be able to withstand wear and not just fall off in dust although they wear gradually but very slow and could last you for a very long time.

Corrosion resistant

Many already know what corrosion does and what a menace it is to the world, you may know that for corrosion to occur you only need two elements which are always present during machining. In fact, the tool must be cooled by application of a fluid called the coolant and of course air is almost everywhere except in a vacuum which machinists cannot operate. Therefore, the cutting tool should be resistant to all forms of corrosion.

These are the basic implant features found in the materials of the cutting tool, but I am yet to discuss the materials that have this features in them. These implanted elements that make them special is not what I would be discussing today but I won't leave here without listing the materials used to make the cutting tools. They include;

• Cemented tungsten carbide tools
• Coated carbide tools
• Ceramic and cermet tools
• Diamond, CBN, and whisker reinforced tools

These are basically the material classification of the cutting tools we have, I would be discussing each briefly in my next post alongside how the tools themselves are shaped and used on works.

Conclusion

The cutting tools which are fitted inside the moving tool post are like the vital parts of the lathe, they are responsible for reshaping and resizing of any material used on the lathe. Cutting tools withstand friction as well as wear to ensure the best form of work is achieved in machining.

Cutting tools determine the kinds of operation that is done on a material and with special imbibed in them like hot hardness, toughness, wear resistance and corrosion resistance. These features or properties are what distinguishes the cutting tools from the material being machined.

Materials used for making the cutting tools and how they are shaped themselves to carry out their operation on the lathe are wonderful and quite easy to the eyes wouldn't you mind seeing for yourself?

Thank you for reading.

References

Here are the books used to gain knowledge about the machine tools and the links.

• Cutting tool applications by George Schneider, Jr. Cmfge
• Geometry of single-point turning tools and drills, Fundamentals and practical applications by Astakhov, V.P
• machine tools
• Manufacturing Process II
• what are machine tools
• wiki - Machine tool

all images and videos in this post were taken and created by my infinix zero five.

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