Novel Developments in Cutting and Grinding of Preheated Billets

The rate of material removing by cutting or grinding and the tool life may significantly increase when machining the workpiece preheated up to the optimal temperature. It equally relates to structural steels, cast irons and to difficult to cut alloys. Specific mechanical energy needed to remove material decreases with increase the workpiece temperature but giving the rise to thermal energy input into the cutting tool. Tool-work interface temperature is a limiting factor restricting the process productivity.

Novel schemes of cutting with variable cutting edge and the moving cutting area allow controlling the interface temperature and tool life at an optimal level equally with the high rate of material removing. Original schemes of cutting with variable cutting edge and corresponding machine tools have been designed, manufactured and put into the practice. Two additional new versions have been proved on laboratory test beds. The results are promising and at present, machine tools are on a designing stage. These processes that carried out within the cycle of metallurgical conversion by using the technological heat of workpiece result in substantial energy savings and shortening the manufacturing cycle. Practical examples of such technologies are demonstrated.