If your shop makes precision machined parts for the aerospace or healthcare industries, you have to be perfect and follow specific guidelines. These projects can be difficult because several things can contribute to poor surface finishes. In fact, you may need to take more time for final finishing, and this can put you behind schedule. Here are some ways to avoid common problems with finishing, so you’ll have a more efficient shop.
Built Up Edge
When making precision machined parts, BUE or built up edge often happens. When you machine a part, shear stress is high at the point of contact with the cutting tool. This causes the area to work harden faster than the rest of the part. This can cause a buildup of material on the cutting tool. For some projects, BUE is not much of an issue, but when you need to machine something to high tolerances, it can cause problems. Here are some tips for avoiding BUE:
* Increase cutting speed – low cutting speeds are a common cause of built up edge. However, when you speed up the cutting process, the cuttings are less likely to adhere to the cutting tool. This can be especially effective for tungsten carbide tools.
* Increase feed speed – if you feed the piece through the cutting tool faster, it has less time to get hot. Since heat from friction causes metal alloys to work harder, faster feed times mean less heat buildup.
* Avoid working with alloys – this is sometimes impossible. However, since pure metals do not work harden, you have no problems with BUE.
A Quick Solution
If your shop has a limited need for precision machined parts, consider outsourcing the work to a shop specializing in medical and aerospace machining work. This will make your job easier, and you won’t have to worry about your precision work.
