Cutting is the foundation of any good quality control process and any mistakes made in cutting jobs drastically affect verification results. Making use of quality cutting tools increases speed and consistency, thereby reducing the need for grinding and polishing which can be time-consuming. Here are a few tips on how you can improve on cutting jobs:
1. Speed up the preparation process by eliminating burrs
A burr is essentially a raised edge that remains attached once the specimen has been sectioned. Burrs need to be removed before sample analysis which adds time-consuming grinding and polishing to the preparation process. To avoid them, it is important to clamp both sides of the workpiece before any job is started. It can be difficult to keep the feed speed low when manually sectioning. This can lead to the occurrence of burrs. To avoid this, it is best to make use of an automatic cut-off machine with controlled feed speed.
2. Improve sample quality by avoiding thermal damage
Incorrect sectioning results in the burning of the material’s surface which is also known as thermal damage. It leaves a discoloration that changes the microstructure of the material to a certain depth. Thermal damage can only be removed through a time-consuming grinding and polishing process before analysis. To avoid thermal damage, it is important to use the right cut off wheel for the material. Precision cutting tools can improve preparation quality, thereby saving time and consumables by reducing the need for plane grinding. This reduces the cost per sample.
3. Avoid pinching by protecting the cut-off wheel
Workpieces of hardened steel build up internal stress during longitudinal cuts. The workpiece then pinches the cut-off wheel which can cause it to get stuck or break. In the worst-case scenario, the workpiece gets deformed which stresses the material, destroying your entire analysis. With the help of an easily adjustable and compact, pinch-reduction tool, you can limit deformations from the cut to minimize pinching and protect your cut-off wheel.
4. Clamp and cut irregular shapes
An irregular shaped workpiece is difficult to clamp for sectioning which slows down the process of cutting. If the workpiece isn’t held down well enough, movement during the sections can mean that the sample has to be recut. To avoid this, support blocks can be used to support the workpiece during sectioning, preventing it from overturning. Another option is to mount smaller workpieces before sectioning making it much easier to clamp with standard tools. A custom made clamping tool can also be used as it can save a great deal of time, significantly improving on reproducibility and quality.
5. Avoid cutting the work surface
The chances of accidentally cutting the table can be minimized by using a lower feed speed. The mechanical impact of a high feed speed can bend the cut-off wheel causing it to veer off into the table. Choosing a slower cutting speed can increase stability.
With quality cutting tools and precision cutting tools, you can increase the efficiency of your cutting jobs. Be sure to keep these tips in mind! Please visit here to know more: https://www.suncoasttools.com/products/cutting-tools