How to Solve Chip Problems When Swiss Machining

NTK Cutting Tools USA launched its first Webinar on 30th January, 2018. The featured presenter is Steve Easterday, NTK's Swiss Product Manager.

The topic focuses on chips created during Swiss machining operations and the mainstream concept which is that breaking the chip is important. But is this accurate? NTK has a different concept of Chip Control.

The topics covered in the video below include:

• Chip Problems Swiss Machining.
• The NTK Concepts regarding chip breaking.

How do you break a chip?

There are a few different ways to break a chip. Many people tend to think that the best methods of breaking chips in swiss machines are through the use of chip breakers on the inserts, slowing down the speed, increasing the feed, taking a bigger depth of cut and through the use of high pressure coolant.  Each one of these, or some combination of them is certainly what is commonly used to gain chip control.

Typically the solution is to reduce the SFM, increase the Feed Rate and increase the Depth of Cut.... but that can lead to workpiece deflection and lower production rates.
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​NTK believes that CONTROLLING the Chips is more important than BREAKING the chips. NTK does this by doing two things:

1. Chip Breaker Design - Upsharp, Consistent, Variety of Forms
2. Toolholders - Utilize the natural cutting forces.

NTK creates a "softer" chip because there is much less heat transferred to the workpiece AND the chips. The translates into better part quality, longer tool life and much more stable machining.

​Check out the video below for all the details on chip breakers and their toolholder solutions.