A cutting tool or a cutter is a piece of hardware which is used to remove any form of deformations or excessive material from a piece of work. The cutting tools are mounted on various machine tools as pointed heads and then can be technically put to the application for various cutting purposes.
With the advancement of technology, the tools in the market are only getting better. Options for tools used for both personal and commercial use are expanding. As much as one is spoilt for choice, with such a wealth of options, without proper knowledge chances are you may get confused about which types of cutting tools are best suited for your needs.
The following are the two basic categories of cutting tools:
1. Single Point
Single point tools make use of a single cutting edge to remove deformities. These tools come with a sharp rounded tip that forms a nose radius and helps in the act of turning on the exterior diameter of a cast hole.
2. Multiple Point
Multiple point cutting tools come with more than one cutting edge. Due to this reason, they are more versatile in their application and use. To use multiple point cutting tools, you need to mount them on a machine and then the point is used in a rotating motion. These tools are very commonly used for drilling and mining purposes.
Here, are the top 5 types of cutting tools used on the materials they are made of:
1. Carbon Tool Steel
They are inexpensive metal cutting tools that are used for the low-speed machining operation. Its composition is C = 0.8 to 1.3%, Si = 0.1 to 0.4% and Mn = 0.1 to 0.4%. It is used for machining soft metals like brass and free cutting steels and used as chisels etc. These tool loose hardness above 250°C. The hardness of the tool is about Rc = 65 and are used at cutting speed of 5m/min.
2. High-Speed Steel
They are used with a significant amount of alloying elements such as tungsten, molybdenum, chromium, etc. to improve hardenability, toughness and wear resistance. It has a high removal rate and loses hardness at a moderate temperature of 650°C. It can be used many times by re-sharpening; however, a coolant should be used to increase tool life.
3. Cemented Carbide Tool and Cermet
With the help of powdered metallurgy technique cemented carbide cutting tools are made. It consists of tungsten, titanium carbide, and tantalum. Cobalt is used as a binder. In the case of cermet, nickel or molybdenum is used as a binder. They do not lose their hardness up to 1000°C and has a cutting speed range of 6-200m/min.
4. Ceramics
Ceramics are made of aluminum oxide and silicon nitride. Ceramic tools possess resistance to corrosion and are chemically inert. They are stable up to 1800°C and have high compressive strength. They provide excellent surface finish and have a cutting speed of 300-600m/min.
5. Diamond
It is the hardest and the most expensive tool and has high thermal conductivity and melting point. It is used for cutting hard materials like carbides, nitrides, glass, etc. They have low thermal expansion and offer excellent abrasion resistance. For more information, visit: https://www.suncoasttools.com/types-cutting-tools
