Creating a highly efficient production environment

Metal Cutting has been the essence of manufacturing since it was invented. The process of bringing the metal to the required shape has transformed itself from a basic form of work to a strategically focused and specialised activity.

- Gautam K Ahuja

The interaction between cutting tools and workpieces has undergone several changes since the advent of manufacturing. The reason has been the demand for productivity and quality arising due to increased competition among the manufacturing industries.

Modern manufacturing methods boil down to three key concepts:

Reduce waste – Reduce the number of materials, capacity and manpower wasted in the process by producing just enough product to meet current demand.

Maintain quality – Devise more effective manufacturing methods to continue making quality products despite strict reductions of waste.

Accelerate production – Decrease the amount of time needed to manufacture products, making up for the lack of surplus.

Reducing waste for chip management

When we talk about metal cutting, the waste that becomes visible at first glance is the material getting removed from the workpiece in the form of chips. Chip management is key to ensuring better productivity in terms of reducing tool breakages and component scrappages. Two important aspects of chip management are chip breakage and chip removal. Breaking the chips is important to avoid chip clogging, which in turn leads to tool jamming and breakage.