Laser-generated chip breaker breakthrough
1 min read
Tooling specialist Paul Horn GmbH, Germany has developed a technique for profiling chip breaker geometries into polycrystalline diamond (PCD) and carbide inserts using multi-axis laser machining.
Currently the process is experimental, however, it has demonstrated capability to profile a virtually unlimited range of chip breaking profiles. It offers scope to solve a range of chip breaking problems including those associated with machining very small diameter bores in materials such as aluminium, and to optimise the performance of PCD tooling.
The main obstacles to commercial application of the process are the high cost of the laser profiling equipment, and the lengthy process cycle time. This last is due to the fact that etching has to be carried out using fairly low laser power to maintain a high level of finish.
Nevertheless, the facility provides Horn with a flexible facility for creating prototype chip breaker geometries. And though full commercial exploitation is some way off it could also be applied to produce limited runs of special tooling if the application warranted it.
