Development of Orthogonal Impact Cutting Testing Machine

FEM cutting simulation predicts that the plastic shock waves are generated that develop the high levels of hydrostatic stress in the shear zone when cutting speed exceeds the plastic wave speeds of the workpiece material. The orthogonal impact cutting testing machine was developed to confirm this phenomenon experimentally. In the testing machine, two guide rails are set up in parallel. The cutting tool and the workpiece are installed on the blocks that slide on the rail. Each block connected with the piston in the air tube by the pushrod is launched by the expansion of compressed air, and is accelerated rapidly. When the two blocks passes each other, cutting is done. This paper describes the details of the developed impact cutting testing machine and experimental results of cutting a pure lead at cutting speed up to 65m/s.