Metalcut

Metalcut is a term used in manufacturing to describe the process of cutting metal to shape and size. It covers techniques that remove material or separate pieces, from traditional metalworking to modern machining. Choice of method depends on metal type, required tolerances, edge quality, production volume, and cost.

Techniques fall into three categories: mechanical, thermal, and non-traditional. Mechanical methods include shearing, sawing, milling, turning, and drilling. Thermal methods use heat to cut or separate metal, such as laser, plasma, or oxy-fuel cutting. Non-traditional approaches, notably waterjet cutting, use high-pressure fluid to cut with little or no heat.

Materials commonly cut by metalcut include carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, brass, and titanium alloys. It supports industries such as automotive, aerospace, construction, electronics, and consumer goods, as well as prototyping and art fabrication. Important considerations include edge quality, kerf width, and burr formation, which affect downstream processes such as forming or welding.

Process control relies on programmable machines or dedicated tooling, with checks for tolerances and surface finish. Key metrics include cut accuracy, kerf, and production rate; tool wear and heat-affected zones are managed with cooling and maintenance.

Safety involves guarding, personal protective equipment, ventilation, and procedures to manage sharp edges, hot surfaces, fumes, and flying debris. Industry practice emphasizes proper training, machine guarding, and lockout/tagout during setup and maintenance.