C UTTING T OOLS AND

A CCESSORIES

O ver the past three to four decades industry in the United States has been affected by intense global competition from industries using the latest technologies in their manufacturing methods. Superabrasive tooling, designed to increase productivity, produce better quality products, and reduce manufacturing costs, can cut and grind the hardest materials known.

The fundamental cutting processes in machining - those of bringing the work into contact with the cutting tool - should remain mainstays of the industry. One of the most important components in the machining process is the cutting tool and its performance determines the efficiency of the operation. Modern tooling systems that can accommodate increased spindle speeds, higher feed rates, increased radial loads, modular adaptability, and profitable short part runs are required by manufacturers to stay competitive.

S UPERABRASIVE T ECHNOLOGY

Michael Flaman – Portland Community Colllege)

Over the past three to four decades, industry in the United States has been greatly affected by intense global competition from offshore industries that are using the latest technologies in their manufacturing methods. Even though the United States continues to lead in the development of new technologies, other countries research, test, and implement them far sooner. Improved productivity and quality result in a larger share of the world market. Products that were previously produced in the United States are now being produced offshore; this has reduced employment opportunities in this country. U.S. industry must take advantage of the benefits of new technology as quickly as possible in order to maintain its leadership in manufacturing.

The superabrasives, Diamond and Cubic Boron Nitride, possess properties unmatched by conventional grinding wheels and cutting tools for grinders, lathes, and machining centers. The hardness, abrasion resistance, compressive strength, and thermal conductivity of superabrasives makes them the logical choice for many difficult grinding, sawing, lapping, machining, drilling, wheel dressing, and wire drawing applications. Superabrasives can cut and grind the hardest materials known, making difficult material-removal applications routine operations. Superabrasive cutting tools are designed to meet the challenge of today by increasing productivity, producing better quality products, and reducing manufacturing costs.

BACKGROUND

In 1954, The General Electric Company (GE), after years of research, produced Man-Made® Diamond in the laboratory. Carbon and a catalyst, such as iron, chromium, cobalt, and nickel, were subjected to tremendous heat and pressure to form diamond crystals, Fig. 3-1-1. Because the temperature, pressure, and catalyst solvent can be varied, it is possible to produce diamond abrasive of various sizes, shapes, and crystal structure to suit a range of grinding applications on nonferrous  and nonmetallic materials.

Fig. 3-1-1 A combination of high pressure and high temperature plus carbon and a catalyst are necessary for diamond growth. (GE Superabrasives)

In 1969, GE introduced an entirely new material, BORAZON ® cubic boron nitride (CBN). Cubic boron nitride is synthesized in crystal form from hexagonal boron nitride and a catalyst using the same high pressure, high temperature technology perfected to produce diamond, Fig. 3-1-2. CBN, second only to diamond in hardness, is used for the grinding of hard alloy steels and other difficult to grind ferrous materials.

Fig. 3-1-2 The process for manufacturing CBN and the crystals produced. (GE Superabrasives)