Oțelul inoxidabil oferă multe avantaje, de la un finisaj atractiv la rezistență și durabilitate ridicate. Dar acestea au un cost pentru mașină și operatorul acesteia. Oțelul poate fi un adversar formidabil datorită rezistenței și durabilității sale, dar aceste caracteristici îl fac atât de util în primul rând. Între aliaje, viteze și selecția sculelor, multe aspecte vă vor afecta produsul final și procesul prin care îl creați.

Prelucrarea pieselor din oțel necesită un anumit nivel de pregătire și înțelegere a materialelor cu care lucrați. Mai jos sunt câteva dintre sfaturile noastre pentru prelucrarea oțelului.

MACHINING PROCESS FOR STEEL

When machining stainless steel, you’ll have to take into consideration all of its characteristics. Remember that it is strong, even at high temperatures.

1. Endmills

The tools you use will have a major impact on your project and the damage it can cause to your machine. The ideal type of endmill varies by application, but be sure to stick with a high-speed steel or carbide-constructed tool. High-speed steels include tungsten and molybdenum. Cemented carbides are a good choice when you need higher feeds or speeds. Make sure the cutting tool is sharp and in good condition to keep a high quality of cut.

• Roughing: An endmill with 4-5 flutes can offer sufficient roughing on steel. Remember that higher flutes make room for higher feed rates.
• Slotting: To slot steel, you’ll have to be aware of chip control and take enough care so your tools aren’t chewed up and your finish isn’t ruined. Try a four-flute endmill, which allows for chips to leave the cutting area more efficiently.
• Finishing: To finish steel parts, you’ll want a large number of flutes or high helix of over 40 degrees.

2. Feeds and Speeds

Now that you have the right tool selected, you need to ensure your speeds are appropriate. While it takes a little fine-tuning, a good starting point would be between 100 and 300 surface feet per minute (SFM) with chiploads ranging depending on the tool size.

STEEL MACHINING TIPS

Steel can be tricky to machine, but it’s not too bad if you are prepared and use the right settings and tools. Be sure to keep these concepts in mind as you machine steel.

• Keep heat low: Steel machining can generate very high temperatures, so take precautions to minimize their effects. Be sure to use a cutting fluid. Between work hardening and low thermal conductivity, keeping heat away from the cutting area is important to keep it in top shape. If excessive heat remains here, you may see distortion and a reduction in corrosion resistance. Cutting fluids help provide lubrication to wash away any chips, lower the wear on your tools and cool the endmill down. Common cutting fluids include mineral oils and emulsifiable oils. Make sure that you have plenty to use because any interruption of the coolant can lead to fluctuations in temperature, which can affect tool life.
• Avoid work hardening: Many steels have high work hardening tendencies. Make sure your tools are sharp and try to keep it moving to avoid any lulls in the cutting process that would lead to a buildup of heat.
• Control vibration: The strength of stainless steel and the speed it requires from the tool can cause extensive vibrations. Vibrations on your work surface can damage your finish while adding wear to your tool. You’ll need a robust, rigid tool capable of high-speed cuttings. Keep your workpiece firmly in place with clamps and minimize any tool overhang. You can also try using tools with a small nose radius.
• Know your material: Every steel alloy is a little different. Know the properties of the one you’re using so you can better adjust your machine to address its characteristics. The addition of sulfur, for instance, can allow for higher feeds by affecting the hardening of chips and helping the tool edge stay consistent. Lead allows for higher speeds since it provides a lubricating property that keeps the heat down.

HOW IS MACHINING STEEL DIFFERENT THAN OTHER MATERIALS?

When machining steel, you’re not working with just one element. Steel is an alloy, comprised of carbon and iron, though other elements are often added to impart specific properties on the metals. This means that different types of steel are going to behave in different ways, and you have a lot of options. According to the World Steel Association, there are over 3,500 different grades of steel.

Alloys tend to have added strength from the inclusion of elements like nickel, chromium and copper. They may also improve its corrosion resistance, strength, ductility and ease of machining. Stainless steels use a larger amount of chromium to offer corrosion resistance. Some types of steel are even designed for easier machinability.

As for other metals, here is a breakdown of some of the more common options.

• Aluminum: In terms of machining steel vs. aluminum, the primary benefit of aluminum is that it is much lighter than steel. Aluminum also allows for faster machining, but it lacks the hardness and strength that steel has.
• Titanium: Titanium is one of the strongest metals out there, even in extreme or fluctuating temperatures. Plus, it has a low weight. The biggest trade-off is the cost of titanium, which is typically considerably higher than that of steel. Titanium is often chosen for sensitive applications like those in aerospace and defense.

COMMON STEEL MACHINING APPLICATIONS

Oțelul are multe rezultate în ceea ce privește rezistența și durabilitatea, dar cel mai mare dezavantaj este greutatea sa. De obicei, este rezervat pentru aplicații în care greutatea nu este o problemă prea mare. Aceasta include adesea componente structurale. Infrastructura, cum ar fi căile ferate, clădirile și drumurile, utilizează de obicei oțel. Alte piese, cum ar fi șuruburile și șuruburile, pot fi, de asemenea, din oțel. Îl puteți găsi în industrii precum mineritul, construcția navală și tehnologia aerospațială.

Este posibil să găsiți oțel inoxidabil și în mai multe locuri datorită finisajului său atractiv. Este versatil și comun în mobilă și electrocasnice. Rezistența la coroziune a oțelului inoxidabil ajută și la aceste aplicații.

ÎMBUNĂTĂȚI-VĂ PROCESUL DE PRELUCRARE A OȚELULUI

Indiferent de aplicație, abordarea adecvată poate face diferența în procesul de prelucrare a oțelului. Dacă adoptați instrumente de înaltă calitate și practici eficiente, oțelul nu trebuie să fie un adversar dur. Faceți lucrurile mai ușoare pentru operatorii dvs. de mașini și reduceți la minimum cheltuielile asociate cu sculele uzate rapid și piesele de lucru deteriorate.

Contactați experții de la Kaito Mold Works pentru mai multe informații despre cum puteți îmbunătăți procesul de prelucrare a oțelului astăzi. Cu peste 35 de ani de experiență, avem cunoștințele și cunoștințele necesare pentru a vă aduce capacitățile de prelucrare la nivelul următor.

Dacă vă putem ajuta cu proiectul dumneavoastră vă rugăm să ne sunați la 0086-769-82821468 sau e - mail sales@kaitomould.com.