No matter the material that is being cut, keeping sharp-edged tools in your tool room is an absolute must. Cutting edges must be sharp at all times for optimum production, quality and employee safety. Customers may not always admire clean, smooth and precise cuts, but they make their voices heard when they are presented with anything less.
Tool re-sharpening is an exacting craft. Keeping edges properly sharpened increases the tool's life and productivity. Here are seven tips on maintaining a precision, smooth and burr-free edge.
- A fixed and rigid machine base is a must. Any slight movement during the process results in uneven edging. A fixed base eliminates flex, which results in less re-working, a balanced edge and gives the tool a longer life.
- Worn workholding fixtures should also be replaced to eliminate any movement of the tool edge.
- Match the coolant to the tool and the application. Oil-based coolants that are sulfur-free often work best on shaper or shaving cutters as well as hobs.
- Grinding wheels, as well as speeds, should be matched to the tool and material.
- Match new tool re-sharpening equipment to new abrasives. Traditional grinding wheel material is comprised of aluminum oxide and silicone carbide. Newer, super abrasive grinding wheels incorporate diamond and cubic boron nitride (CBN) in their composition. These wheels can be run at significantly higher speeds, create less scrap and improve material removal rates. Better edging and less scrap equals less inventory and a longer life of the cutting tool.
- An inspection machine should be used to examine the quality of the work. Areas to be examined are: Indexing, lead of the gash, radial face and the finish of the surface.
- Mount the cutting tool back into the machine to the correct tolerances. Poorly-installed cutting tools can damage machinery, cause improper cuts and shorten the tool's life.
Following these tips can increase your tool life, provide cleaner cuts and reduce expenses. If you prefer, just outsource your tool re-sharpening to Star Su. Star Su can help you manage your tool room resources easily and efficiently. They utilize modern high-speed equipment (Click here to download PTG-1 machine flyer) and use the finest in CNC sharpening methods to bring your tools to their original sharpened quality and performance. Oerlikon Balzers advanced coatings are applied after the tool re-sharpening process to improve your equipment's performance even more.
