Effect of the drag-finishing of cutting blades made of sintered carbides on tool life in particleboard machining

ABSTRACT

It is currently known that in certain circumstances pre-rounding of cutting blades can significantly increase tool life. Despite many data on the beneficial effect of drag-finishing on the durability of metalworking tools, it is not entirely clear whether similar benefits appear when machining wood-based panels. The results of some pilot study are quite promising but the real impact of cutting blades pre-rounding (it is about blades made of various standard cemented carbides), on tool life in particleboard milling are very rarely studied. The study aims to fill this gap in the knowledge system. The experimental research was carried out using a CNC milling machine equipped with a single-blade milling head with replaceable blades. It turned out that the positive effect of the drag-finishing of cutting blades on tool life in particleboard machining depends on the structure and hardness of carbide. A significant extension of the tool life (about 50%) was observed only in the case of particularly hard carbide (2240 HV10). There was no significant advantage for the softer type of carbide (1800 HV10).

KEYWORDS:

• Tool wear micro geometry
• wood machining
• cemented carbides

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).