L-Shaped Machining of Anisotropic Woods with a Fine Wire Cutting Tool

• Published in: Key Engineering Materials 2015-07, Vol.656-657, p.314-319
• Main Authors: Yamaguchi, Kenji, Hayashi, Keitoku, Iida, Ryuichi, Sakamoto, Satoshi, Kondo, Yasuo, Yamaguchi, Mitsugu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anisotropy; Blades (cutting); Cutting tools; Fretting; Machinability; Machining; Wire; Wood
• ISSN: 1013-9826; 1662-9795; 1662-9795
• DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.656-657.314

A fret-saw blade is commonly used in micromachining or curve machining of various woods. However, there is a curvature limit for machining of free-form surfaces because a fret-saw blade has a thickness of several hundred microns and a width of several millimeters. Additionally, cutting with a fret-saw blade produces much wood meal as chips. If a fine wire cutting tool is used, more flexible machining, such as machining of high curvature free-form surfaces, is possible and the quantity of chip production drastically decreases. The main purpose of this study is to clarify the fundamental machinability of anisotropic materials cut with a fine wire tool. In this report, we describe the machinability of various woods that are naturally anisotropic materials using a fine wire cutting tool that has electrodeposited diamond grains on its surface. In addition, this report discusses the performance of a trial manufactured hand tool employing the same wire cutting tool. The main conclusions obtained in this study are as follows. Acceptable machining of anisotropic woods is possible using a fine wire cutting tool, and the kerf width produced with this wire tool is narrower than that produced with a fret-saw blade. Additionally, the wood species and the cutting direction with respect to the wood grain have a significant influence on the machinability of various woods. Moreover, a relatively smooth cross section is provided when wood is cut by the hand tool using the fine wire tool.