1, The characteristics of stainless steel and its influence on cutting tools
Stainless steel is mainly composed of elements such as iron, chromium, and nickel, and has high strength, hardness, and toughness, as well as good corrosion resistance and heat resistance. However, these characteristics also make stainless steel prone to problems such as work hardening, high cutting temperature, tool sticking, and chip accumulation during the machining process, thereby increasing the risk of tool wear and damage.
2, Selection of cutting tool materials
The material of the cutting tool is a key factor determining its performance and lifespan. When processing stainless steel, commonly used tool materials include hard alloys, high-speed steel, ceramics, and cubic boron nitride (CBN).
Hard alloy
Hard alloy is one of the most commonly used tool materials for processing stainless steel. It has high hardness, wear resistance, and heat resistance, and can withstand high cutting temperatures and pressures. Hard alloy cutting tools are commonly used for processing medium thickness and complex shapes of stainless steel. According to the specific type and processing requirements of stainless steel, hard alloy cutting tools can be further subdivided into YG class, YW class, etc. to adapt to different cutting conditions.
high speed steel
High speed steel is an alloy steel with high thermal strength and wear resistance, suitable for processing thinner materials and complex shapes of stainless steel. However, compared to hard alloys, high-speed steel has lower hardness and wear resistance, resulting in relatively shorter tool life.
ceramics
Ceramic cutting tools have extremely high hardness and wear resistance, and can maintain good cutting performance under high-speed cutting. However, ceramic cutting tools have high brittleness and are prone to chipping, so careful selection is necessary when processing stainless steel.
Cubic Boron Nitride (CBN)
CBN cutting tools are a new type of tool material developed in recent years, which has extremely high hardness and wear resistance, and can withstand extremely high cutting temperatures and pressures. It is particularly suitable for processing stainless steel materials with high hardness, toughness, and wear resistance.
3, Selection of Tool Types
The choice of tool type is also crucial when processing stainless steel. Common types of cutting tools include milling cutters, drill bits, taps, and turning tools.
Milling cutter
Milling cutters are one of the most commonly used cutting tools for processing stainless steel. According to the specific type and processing requirements of stainless steel, ordinary hard alloy coated milling cutters, stainless steel special milling cutters, etc. can be selected. For thinner stainless steel materials, a four edge milling cutter can be chosen to improve cutting efficiency; For thicker or more complex shaped stainless steel materials, it is necessary to choose cutting tools with higher hardness and wear resistance.
bit
Drill bits are mainly used for machining holes in stainless steel. When choosing a drill bit, factors such as the hardness, thickness, and depth of the hole of stainless steel need to be considered. Generally speaking, hard alloy drill bits are the preferred choice for processing stainless steel due to their high hardness and wear resistance. At the same time, drill bits with special coatings or structures can also be selected to improve cutting efficiency and extend tool life.
Tap tap
Tap is used for processing internal threads of stainless steel. Due to the high hardness and toughness of stainless steel, it is prone to chip blockage and surface damage during the processing of internal threads. Therefore, when selecting a tap, factors such as its material, coating, and cutting angle need to be considered to ensure machining quality and tool life.
Turning tool
Turning tools are mainly used for machining the outer circle, end face, and grooves of stainless steel. When choosing a cutting tool, factors such as the hardness, toughness, and cutting temperature of stainless steel need to be considered. Generally speaking, hard alloy cutting tools are the preferred choice for processing stainless steel because they have high hardness and wear resistance. At the same time, cutting tools with special geometric shapes and coatings can also be selected to improve cutting efficiency and extend tool life.
4, Tool selection in specific application scenarios
When processing stainless steel, different application scenarios have different requirements for cutting tools. Here are some suggestions for tool selection in specific application scenarios:
Rough machining
When rough machining stainless steel, it is necessary to choose tools with higher hardness and wear resistance to withstand larger cutting forces and cutting temperatures. At the same time, the geometric shape and cutting angle of the cutting tool also need to be optimized to improve cutting efficiency and reduce cutting resistance.
finish machining
When precision machining stainless steel, it is necessary to choose cutting tools with higher precision and surface quality to ensure that the machined parts meet the design requirements. At this point, tools with special coatings or structures can be chosen to improve cutting efficiency and extend tool life. Meanwhile, it is also necessary to pay attention to the adjustment and control of cutting parameters to avoid excessive cutting force and cutting temperature.
Difficult to cut stainless steel
For difficult to cut stainless steel materials (such as high hardness, high toughness, and high wear resistance stainless steel), it is necessary to choose tools with higher hardness and wear resistance (such as CBN tools) to ensure machining quality and tool life. At the same time, appropriate cutting parameters and cutting fluids need to be taken to reduce cutting temperature and cutting resistance.
