How to Extend the Life of High-Speed Steel Tools

Tool life is a straightforward parameter that measures the number of months/years the tool remains in production before it needs replacement. It is also measured in variables such as the number of components machined or the distance covered by the tool before it is relegated to rejection. Tool life is affected by several aspects, such as feed rate, cutting speed, machined material, depth of cut, and the tool's material. Usually, different grades of high-speed steel are considered ideal for production processes as these exhibit competent hardness and strength.

Setting a Tool by the Right Methods

Extending the tool life should be an essential faculty of the production manager. Tool replacement is typically an extensive and expensive process. It also causes disruptions in the production facility, affecting the entire supply chain. To prolong the lifecycle, the priority should be to select the right grade of high-speed steel (HSS). You need to discuss with a preferred high speed steel supplier to weigh in the various options and select the most compatible material for your factory.

Once the tool is deployed into production, you must pay attention to a set of proven methods to prolong its lifecycle. Optimizing the machine part would inevitably mean using appropriate speeds and feeds in operation. The tool is designed to cut, bore, or rotate at an extremely high speed while traversing the length of the component.

An experienced operator can determine the best speed to get the job done while incurring minimal damage to the tool. In addition, you need to take proper measures to alleviate the high heat generated due to metal-to-metal friction. The application of a cutting fluid should be measured appropriately so that the heat remains under control.

Key Criteria during the Machining Process

Chips are imperative in the production process to remove the metal material from the workpiece after cutting. This dissipate the extra heat generated in the process. However, re-cutting chips should be avoided as this generates tool wear factors such as crater wear and flank wear.

These issues can be easily sorted out when the tool is administered correctly. As mentioned earlier, selecting the right tool material is extremely important. The HSS grade should be selected after careful consideration of the toughness and the level of complexity required on the workpiece.

The variables has to be correct. The interaction with these can deflect the tool significantly. Proper attention must be diverted toward removing chip buildup on the workpiece. Most importantly, the tool should be securely held in place to prevent runout. This is especially a major problem in older machines where the center of the tool shaft gets misaligned relative to the central axis. The misalignment eventually builds up tension in the machine part, affecting the tool's life.

Find one with Reputation

Finally, the tool should be placed in such a way that the wear is evenly distributed over the cutting edge. An uneven focus on any one aspect of the cutting edge causes more wear and tear. You can get better industry insights by discussing the issue directly with a high speed steel supplier. Kushal Metal is one well-known company with a solid reputation in the industry.