Chanfamento

Chanfamento is a finishing operation that creates a chamfer, i.e., a beveled edge formed by removing material along an edge or corner. The resulting edge is no longer at a right angle relative to the adjacent surface, typically at about 45 degrees, but the angle can vary depending on function and standard.

The process can be performed with manual tools such as a chisel, hand plane, file, or rasp, or with powered equipment such as a router with a chamfer bit, a milling machine, a table saw with a chamfer guide, or a deburring tool. In metalworking, chamfers are often produced to remove burrs after cutting and to prepare edges for assembly or finishing.

Chanfamento serves several purposes: facilitating assembly and fit between parts, easing the entry of fasteners, removing sharp corners to reduce injury risk, aiding coating adhesion and paint or plating, and improving aesthetics and stress distribution. It is commonly applied in woodworking, metal fabrication, and manufacturing to ensure safer handling and better performance of components.

Angles and tolerances vary by material and function; typical chamfers range from about 15 to 45 degrees. The term is widely used in carpentry, metalworking, and industrial production. Proper technique includes marking and securing the workpiece, selecting an appropriate tool, and avoiding overcutting, which can weaken edges or alter tolerances.

See also: chamfer, bevel, deburring. The word derives from chanfrar, reflecting the action of making a bevel along an edge.