A Guide to Types of Cutting Tools for Metal Projects

06 October 2021

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Type of Cutting Tools: Choosing Best Tools for Your Metal Project

Machine operation involves manufacturing operation where excess material is removed by shearing. The shearing is facilitated by complex wedge-shaped devices called metal cutting tools or steel cutting machinery. It compresses the material, which causes shearing hence cutting the excess fabric. For it to function correctly, the cutting tool must be sharp. That will even enable you to use less force when cutting the metal.

What is a Cutting Tool?

A cutting tool is a wedge-shaped device with sharp edges used to remove excess material from a working piece by shearing. The removal of the extra material enables you to obtain the required shape and size of the material. The tool that cuts metal is mounted on the machine tool and has a relative velocity.

There are different cutting tools available, and the one you choose depends on various factors. Although preference matters when selecting a metal cutting machine, what plays an important role when selecting a cutting tool is how it helps the work to be done properly.

Types of Cutting Tools

The cutting tools can be used in different machine operations. Below is a list of some of the cutting tools.

Milling
It is a tool with several cutting edges on its outer surface. Metal mill tools perform the cutting by rotating on the workpiece. They are commonly used in the milling machine.
Drilling
A drill is one of the types of boring machines that is used for drilling a hole in a workpiece. It is one of the most common cutting tools available.
Turning
Turning is the most common lathe machining operation. It works by removing material from the outer diameter of a rotating workpiece. This is done to reduce the workpiece diameter.
Threading
Thread is a cutting process that creates screw threads for fastening things together on the workpiece like screws.
Boring
Boring is a cutting process that uses a single-point cutting tool or a boring head to produce smooth and accurate holes in a workpiece.
Reaming
It is a tool used to finish the hole opened by a drill according to the needed accuracy. Depending on the whole diameter, the reamer may have one or more cutting edges.

How to Choose Best Tools for Your Project

There are several cutting tools available, which makes choosing the right one a challenging task. It would help if you took your time to select the tools correctly; otherwise, you might end up with the wrong one that will not meet your needs. Below are some of the factors to consider before you choose industrial cutting machines.

Know your application
The type of work the cutting tool will perform will guide in choosing a cutting tool. Not all cutting tools serve the same purpose. Some of the tasks performed using cutting tools include drilling holes, resizing, and shape cutting. Every job has its cutting tool. That means making a wrong choice will be a waste of money because it will not perform the task you want.
The environment you are going to use it in.
The environment where the material will be used plays a significant role in determining the rigidity of the cutting tool. It would help if you looked at the environmental factors such as humidity, temperature, and moisture content, as those are the ones that will severely affect the cutting tool. After looking at the factors, you can choose a cutting tool that will not damage the prevailing environmental condition.
Budget
Putting your budget into consideration is one of the most critical factors. Before you even go ahead to look at other factors, you must first consider the amount of money you have and the amount you want to spend. However, a good cutting machine for metal may be, you cannot purchase it if you do not have enough capital.

Many people have been disappointed in the past because of failure to consider your budget. You make your mind on the type of cutting tool you want to buy without looking at the price and the amount you have. When you reach the market, you find out that the price is far from what you have. That can be very discouraging because it is even hard to shift your mind at that instance.

The best way to avoid that is to go through the different types of metal cutting tools you want with their prices so that you don't go to the market with a rigid mind. You will have a variety of options so that even if the one you want is missing, you can still choose another one that fits your budget.
Materials used in the tools
Knowing the type of material used to manufacture the tool is an essential factor to consider before purchase. That will help you make the right choice concerning usage. The material usage differs depending on the duration the task will be performed and the load it will face. Materials have different properties and strengths.

Some materials can face more load, while others can face less burden. That means if you choose a material meant for less load to face a huge load, the tool may get damaged. Some materials can also work best for tasks that take long before completion, while others will be worn out, maybe due to friction. Replacing a cutting tool more frequently is expensive in the long run; therefore, ensure you choose a cutting tool with the suitable material for your task.
Know your choice
Another essential factor to note is your choice. That is very important because it will guide you and make it easy for you to decide. Even if you have no experience with any type of cutting tools, it is essential to do some little research and know what is best for you. You need to see the application of each cutting tool and the work to be performed.

Conclusion

Cutting tools are essential requirements in machine operation. However, for the machine to function effectively, you need to choose the right one and be impressed with the result.

Thai Parkerizing, as a leader in coating, surface treatment and heat treatment technology for a wide range of purposes, including customers in the automotive parts industry, continues to persist in research and development to create effective solutions for customer needs. Our wide range of products and services include PVD coating for applications such as machine parts, drilling and cutting tools.