1070 – 04 – What Happens to the Workpiece

The amount of heat created has a lot to do with the type of material you’re working with. Metals with low tensile strength, like brass or aluminum, create less heat. Steel and titanium, on the other hand, have high tensile strength, and therefore create more heat when they are cut.

Besides tensile strength, the amount of heat generated also depends on how fast you’re cutting. Cutting at high speeds can cause temperatures to increase and pressures to create a built up edge (BUE). When a BUE forms, it becomes difficult to remove chips from the cutting area. That’s why the cooling feature of cutting fluids is so essential. Lubrication is important as well, especially for cutting at lower speeds.