Winterthur, August 2019 – Cutting processes generally have extremely diverse characteristics that make it very difficult to monitor them reliably. Micromachining processes in particular demand increased vigilance – in fact, they are virtually impossible to monitor. The remedy: piezoelectric force sensors from Kistler. Thanks to their very wide measuring range, these sensors reliably capture even the smallest forces to supply information about the condition of the cutting edge.
During a machining process, the forces on workpieces and cutting tools are high in relation to the area on which they act. This limits cutting insert lifetimes, which may differ depending on the material and the application. Lifetimes can vary enormously, especially if micromachining processes are involved and the materials are difficult to machine. Another factor is that we cannot use our own eyes or ears to determine the current condition of the tool edge, so we are left with no reliable information for implementing integration into automated processes.