Types of Cutting Implements
– Knife
– Saw
– Scalpel
– Microtome
– Any sufficiently sharp object
Cutting as a Compressive and Shearing Phenomenon
– Cutting occurs when the total stress exceeds the material’s ultimate strength
– The stress generated is directly proportional to the applied force
– The stress is inversely proportional to the area of contact
– Smaller area (sharper cutting implement) requires less force
– Cutting edges are thinner for soft materials and thicker for harder materials
Metal Cutting Methods
– Chip forming methods: sawing, drilling, milling, turning
– Shearing methods: punching, stamping, scissoring, blanking
– Abrasive material removal methods: grinding, lapping, polishing, water-jet
– Heat methods: flame cutting, plasma cutting, laser cutting
– Electrochemical methods: etching, electrical discharge machining (EDM), electrochemical machining (ECM)
Limitations and Considerations in Metal Cutting
– Each method has limitations in accuracy, cost, and effect on the material
– Heat may damage the quality of heat treated alloys
– Laser cutting is less suitable for highly reflective materials like aluminum
– Laser cutting is preferred for its quick process and customizable abilities
– Laser cutting can produce flat parts and etch and engrave complex or simple designs
Related Topics
– Tearing
– Machining
– Knife sharpening
– Laser cutting
– Water jet cutting Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cutting
Cutting is the separation or opening of a physical object, into two or more portions, through the application of an acutely directed force.
Implements commonly used for cutting are the knife and saw, or in medicine and science the scalpel and microtome. However, any sufficiently sharp object is capable of cutting if it has a hardness sufficiently larger than the object being cut, and if it is applied with sufficient force. Even liquids can be used to cut things when applied with sufficient force (see water jet cutter).
Cutting is a compressive and shearing phenomenon, and occurs only when the total stress generated by the cutting implement exceeds the ultimate strength of the material of the object being cut. The simplest applicable equation is:
or
The stress generated by a cutting implement is directly proportional to the force with which it is applied, and inversely proportional to the area of contact. Hence, the smaller the area (i.e., the sharper the cutting implement), the less force is needed to cut something. It is generally seen that cutting edges are thinner for cutting soft materials and thicker for harder materials. This progression is seen from kitchen knife, to cleaver, to axe, and is a balance between the easy cutting action of a thin blade vs strength and edge durability of a thicker blade.
