Cutting is the separation or opening of a physical object, into two or more portions, through the application of an acutely directed force. Implements commonly used for cutting are the knife and saw, or in medicine and science the scalpel and microtome. However, any sufficiently sharp object is capable of cutting if it has a hardness sufficiently larger than the object being cut, and if it is applied with sufficient force. Even liquids can be used to cut things when applied with sufficient force (see water jet cutter). Cutting is a compressive and shearing phenomenon, and occurs only when the total stress generated by the cutting implement exceeds the ultimate strength of the material of the object being cut. The simplest applicable equation is: or The stress generated by a cutting implement is directly proportional to the force with which it is applied, and inversely proportional to the area of contact. Hence, the smaller the area (i.e., the sharper the cutting implement), the less force is needed to cut something. It is generally seen that cutting edges are thinner for cutting soft materials and thicker for harder materials. This progression is seen from kitchen knife, to cleaver, to axe, and is a balance between the easy cutting action of a thin blade vs strength and edge durability of a thicker blade. Cutting has been at the core of manufacturing throughout history. For metals many methods are used and can be grouped by the physical phenomenon used. It is the process of producing a work piece by removing unwanted material from a block of metal, in the form of chips. Chip forming (material removal processes) – sawing, drilling, milling, turning etc. Shearing – punching, stamping, scissoring, blanking Abrasive material removal – grinding, lapping, polishing, water-jet Heat – flame cutting, plasma cutting, laser cutting Electrochemical – etching, electrical discharge machining (EDM), electrochemical machining (ECM) Every method has its limitations in accuracy, cost, and effect on the material.

About this result
This page is automatically generated and may contain information that is not correct, complete, up-to-date, or relevant to your search query. The same applies to every other page on this website. Please make sure to verify the information with EPFL's official sources.
Related courses (2)
ME-212: Industrial production processes
Application des principales catégories de procédés de production. Modèles physiques élémentaires décrivant le comportement des principaux procédés de production. Compréhension de base des aspects éc
MICRO-301: Manufacturing technologies
This course gives an introduction to production methods and manufacturing technologies used in microengineering. The focus is given on the understanding of physical phenomena underlying the processes,
Related lectures (9)
Merchant's Law: Shear Stress and Cutting Force Relationship
Explains the shear stress and cutting force relationship based on Merchant's Law.
Conventional Machining: Material Removal and Processes
Explores conventional machining processes, emphasizing the importance of precise part shapes and dimensional accuracy.
Stamping and Cutting: Fundamentals
Covers the fundamentals of stamping and cutting processes, including stress control, geometric relations, force calculation, and material breakage.
Show more
Related publications (13)

Computational Design of Auxetic Shells

Mina Konakovic Lukovic

Recent advances in material science and digital fabrication provide promising opportunities for product design, mechanical and biomedical engineering, robotics, architecture, art, and science. Engineered materials and personalized fabrication are revolutio ...
EPFL2019

Rapid Deployment of Curved Surfaces via Programmable Auxetics

Mark Pauly, Mina Konakovic Lukovic

Deployable structures are physical mechanisms that can easily transition between two or more geometric configurations; such structures enable industrial, scientific, and consumer applications at a wide variety of scales. This paper develops novel deployabl ...
ASSOC COMPUTING MACHINERY2018

Development of a precision machine to perform and study orthogonal micro-cutting

Kossi Agbeviade, Jacques Giovanola, Jennifer Gasparoux

This article presents a laboratory machine designed to perform orthogonal micro-cutting experiments. The machine allows an accurate control of the various cutting parameters and a direct comparison of micro-and macrocutting tool-material data bases. Resear ...
Springer Heidelberg2016
Show more
Related concepts (3)
Blade
A blade is the portion of a tool, weapon, or machine with an edge that is designed to puncture, chop, slice or scrape surfaces or materials. Blades are typically made from materials that are harder than those they are to be used on. Historically, humans have made blades from flaking stones such as flint or obsidian, and from various metal such as copper, bronze and iron. Modern blades are often made of steel or ceramic. Blades are one of humanity's oldest tools, and continue to be used for combat, food preparation, and other purposes.
Numerical control
Numerical control (also computer numerical control, abbreviated CNC) is the automated control of machining tools (such as drills, lathes, mills, grinders, routers and 3D printers) by means of a computer. A CNC machine processes a piece of material (metal, plastic, wood, ceramic, stone, or composite) to meet specifications by following coded programmed instructions and without a manual operator directly controlling the machining operation.
Lathe
A lathe (leɪð) is a machine tool that rotates a workpiece about an axis of rotation to perform various operations such as cutting, sanding, knurling, drilling, deformation, facing, and turning, with tools that are applied to the workpiece to create an object with symmetry about that axis. Lathes are used in woodturning, metalworking, metal spinning, thermal spraying, reclamation, and glass-working. Lathes can be used to shape pottery, the best-known design being the Potter's wheel.

Graph Chatbot

Chat with Graph Search

Ask any question about EPFL courses, lectures, exercises, research, news, etc. or try the example questions below.

DISCLAIMER: The Graph Chatbot is not programmed to provide explicit or categorical answers to your questions. Rather, it transforms your questions into API requests that are distributed across the various IT services officially administered by EPFL. Its purpose is solely to collect and recommend relevant references to content that you can explore to help you answer your questions.