cuttingtool

A cutting tool is a device used to remove material from a workpiece by shearing, producing chips. Cutting tools are used in many manufacturing disciplines, including metalworking, woodworking, and plastics processing. The tool's cutting edge interacts with the workpiece under load, generating heat, plastic deformation, and chip flow that determine the finished size and surface quality.

Tool types range from single-point cutting tools to multi-edge tools. Single-point tools, such as lathe turning tools and boring bars, typically present one main cutting edge and rely on feed to form the desired features. Multi-edge tools, including drills, milling cutters, and indexable inserts, carry several cutting edges and are suited for removing material efficiently. Geometry—rake angle, clearance angle, nose radius, and edge preparation—affects cutting forces, chip formation, wear, and surface finish. Tool holders and mounting must match the machine spindle and operation.

Materials used for cutting tools include high-speed steel (HSS), carbide, ceramics, cermets, polycrystalline diamond (PCD), and cubic boron nitride (CBN). Each material offers a different balance of hardness, toughness, and thermal stability. Tool wear occurs by flank wear, crater wear, chipping, or built-up edge, reducing accuracy and increasing power consumption. Tool life is influenced by cutting speed, feed rate, depth of cut, workpiece material, and the use of coolants or lubricants.

Common operations that use cutting tools are turning, milling, drilling, boring, threading, and tapping. Tools are held in compatible tool holders or chucks and indexed inserts to match machine interfaces. Quality control includes inspection of tool geometry and wear, as well as monitoring cutting conditions. The selection of tool material, geometry, and coating is guided by the workpiece material and the intended surface finish and production rate.