Article From: 3/4/2005 Production Machining
The DMG Lasertec 40 machine is used to cut various chip breaker shapes into custom form tools. The idea behind chip control is to design a chip breaker geometry that controls the length of a given chip or the direction of a continuous chip in such a way that bird nests can be eliminated. The ability to predict the behavior of a chip is based on numerous factors including the cutting data—feed, speed, depth of cut—as well as material.
In addition to efficient cutting, tool design should include chip control geometry. Controlling the size and direction of chip formation is the role of chip breakers.
The form tool geometry is solid modeled in CAD with the chip breaker in place. This file is downloaded to the laser, which cuts the chip breaker. The machine's CNC controls various parameters, such as depth of cut and K-land distance.
