Working with soft metals can be tricky for even the best shop owners. One big problem is when the metal gets too hot and sticks to the tool bit. This ruins the cut and can break your expensive equipment quickly. It is vital to keep the heat down and the chips moving. Many shops check the aluminium cutting machine price in UAE before they start a new professional project.
Use the right tool coating:
The coating on your bit acts as a shield against the heat. Some coatings are made to stop soft metals from sticking to the sharp edges. These special layers help the chips slide off the tool before they get too hot. Without a good coating the metal will melt and bond to the bit.
Keep your tools very sharp:
Dull tools create a lot of friction as they push through the metal. Friction creates heat which is the main cause of the welding problem. A sharp edge slices through the material with very little effort or stress. This keeps the temperature low and the cut very clean for the whole job. Check your bits for wear every time you start a new batch of work.
Increase the feed rate:
If the tool stays in one spot for too long it will generate too much heat. Moving the tool faster through the metal helps carry the heat away in the chips. This process is called chip load and it is key to a cool cut. You want to make big chips that take the heat with them. Small dust like chips stay near the tool and cause it to get hot.
Apply plenty of lubrication:
Using a spray or a mist helps keep everything cool while the machine works. The liquid coats the tool and the metal to stop them from bonding together. It also helps wash the chips out of the way so they do not get cut twice. Cutting dry is a quick way to weld the metal to your bit.
Pick the right number of flutes:
The flutes are the channels on the tool that carry the metal chips away. For soft metals you should use a tool with fewer flutes like one or two. This gives the big chips more room to escape without getting stuck. If you use too many flutes the chips will clog up the tool very fast.