Comprehensive Analysis of Cutting Machining Technology: Principles, Materials, and Applications

 

Cutting machining is a mechanical processing method that removes excess material from the surface of a workpiece using a tool with a regular shape. Its core objective is to ensure that the workpiece meets the design requirements in terms of geometric shape, dimensional accuracy, surface roughness, and surface layer quality. As one of the fundamental processes in the manufacturing industry, cutting machining is widely used in fields such as automotive, aerospace, 3C electronics, machinery manufacturing, and mold manufacturing. The following analysis is carried out from three aspects: technological characteristics, material selection, and application scenarios.

 

I. Key Characteristics of Cutting Machining Technology

Cutting machining achieves efficient material removal through composite processes such as mechanical, electrochemical, and ultrasonic methods. The core of this technology includes tool design, machining path planning, and optimization of cutting parameters, which directly affect the machining accuracy and surface quality.

 

1. Technological Progress and Innovation

   - Tool Materials and Coating Technology: New types of cemented carbides, ceramics, and superhard materials (such as cubic boron nitride) significantly enhance the wear resistance of tools. Combined with multi - layer composite coating technology, the friction coefficient can be reduced, and the tool life can be extended. For example, coating technology reduces the damage to the tool caused by cutting heat and can meet the requirements of high - speed machining.

   - Numerical Control and Automation: Computer - Aided Design and Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology enables the programmed cutting of complex parts. By generating G - codes to control the machine tool path, high precision and efficiency are ensured. The popularization of numerical control machine tools makes multi - axis linkage machining possible, meeting the machining requirements for complex curved surfaces in the aerospace field.

 

2. Optimization of Process Parameters

The reasonable matching of parameters such as cutting speed, feed rate, and cutting depth is the key to reducing tool wear. For example, low - speed cutting is prone to cause abrasive wear, while high - speed cutting requires temperature control to avoid diffusion wear.

 

II. Material Selection for Cutting Machining

Materials for cutting machining need to be flexibly selected according to the performance of the workpiece and the processing requirements:

- Iron - Based Materials: Such as carbon steel and alloy steel, which are widely used in the manufacture of mechanical parts. High - hardness tools need to be matched to reduce adhesive wear.

- Aluminum - Based Materials: Their lightweight characteristics make them widely used in the automotive and 3C fields. However, the formation of built - up edges during the cutting process needs to be avoided.

- Resin - Based Composites: Commonly used in insulating parts of electronic devices, sharp tools are required to avoid material delamination.

 

III. Core Application Fields of Cutting Machining

1. Automobile Manufacturing

Key components such as engine blocks and crankshafts rely on precision turning and milling. The tolerance needs to be controlled at the micron level to ensure the reliability of assembly.

 

2. Aerospace

Turbine blades, fuselage structural components, etc. use five - axis linkage machining to meet the machining requirements for complex geometric shapes and ultra - high - strength materials.

 

3. 3C Electronics and 5G Communication

Components such as metal shells and radiators achieve high surface finish and heat dissipation performance through precision milling, while also taking into account the requirements for electromagnetic shielding.

 

4. Mold Manufacturing

The cavity machining of injection molds and die - casting molds relies on the composite process of electrical discharge and cutting to ensure that the surface roughness is lower than Ra 0.8μm.

 

IV. Future Trends of Cutting Machining

With the development of intelligent and green manufacturing, cutting technology is evolving in the following directions:

- Intelligent Monitoring System: Real - time monitoring of tool wear and cutting status through sensors to achieve adaptive machining.

- Green Cutting Process: Using minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) or low - temperature cooling technology to reduce the pollution of cutting fluids.

- Ultra - Precision Machining: Cutting equipment with nanometer - level precision is gradually being applied in the fields of optical components and semiconductor manufacturing.

 

In summary, the continuous innovation of cutting machining technology is driving the manufacturing industry towards high - efficiency, precision, and intelligence. From material science to digital control, the optimization of each link will inject new impetus into industrial manufacturing.