CNC Cutting Tool Selection

CNC cutting tools are the direct tools for material removal in the CNC processing process, and their performance and selection directly affect processing efficiency, processing quality, tool life and production cost. In CNC processing, different processing materials, processing methods and processing requirements require the selection of appropriate cutting tools. Therefore, mastering the selection method of CNC cutting tools is an important skill for CNC operators and technical personnel.

When selecting CNC cutting tools, the first thing to consider is the processing material. Different materials have different hardness, toughness and wear resistance, so the tool material and tool geometry need to be selected accordingly. For example, when processing high-hardness materials such as steel and cast iron, carbide tools or ceramic tools with high hardness and wear resistance should be selected; when processing non-ferrous metals such as aluminum and copper, high-speed steel tools or diamond tools with good toughness and sharp cutting edges can be selected. In addition, the state of the material (such as raw material, forging, casting) also needs to be considered, because the surface roughness and hardness of the material in different states are different, which will affect the selection of tools.

Secondly, the processing method and processing requirements should be considered. Different processing methods (such as turning, milling, drilling, tapping) require different types of tools. For example, turning tools are used for turning processing, end mills and face mills are used for milling processing, and drills and taps are used for drilling and tapping. At the same time, the processing requirements such as surface roughness, dimensional accuracy and processing efficiency of the workpiece also affect the selection of tools. For example, if high surface roughness is required, tools with small rake angle and large relief angle can be selected to reduce cutting marks; if high processing efficiency is required, tools with large cutting edge width and high cutting speed can be selected.

In addition, the tool geometry parameters and tool holder selection should also be paid attention to. The tool geometry parameters include rake angle, relief angle, cutting edge angle, etc., which affect the cutting force, cutting temperature and tool life. Reasonable geometry parameters can reduce cutting resistance and improve tool life. The tool holder is used to fix the tool on the machine tool, and its accuracy and rigidity directly affect the positioning accuracy of the tool. It is necessary to select a tool holder that matches the tool and the machine tool to ensure the stability of the tool during processing. Finally, the cost of the tool should be considered. On the premise of meeting the processing requirements, tools with high cost performance should be selected to reduce production costs.