The Evolution of Cutting Tools in the Metal-Mechanical Industry

Since the early days of humanity, there has been a continuous evolution of tools over millions of years. Ideas, materials, and technologies have progressed to create more precise, faster, versatile tools with lower costs and increased applications.

Throughout history, humans have utilized various objects to complement their manual abilities. As time passed, they learned to design, manufacture, and use new tools that facilitated their evolution.

In the mid-20th century, a wide range of tools and machine tools, originally designed and built during World War II, began to spread. This proliferation of tools significantly contributed to the Industrial Revolution, enhancing manufacturing processes, particularly in machining.

Cutting tools have become essential in industrial consumption over the last 40 years. Known for their chip removal process, these tools play a crucial role in machining operations, distinguishing themselves through unique materials, designs, formats, and operational characteristics.

Unlike traditional tools with long durability, cutting tools have a limited lifespan due to the nature of their work. Once worn out, they are discarded and replaced. Despite this, their widespread use across various industries has propelled their rapid development and dominance in production and sales.

Engineer Frederick Winslow Taylor, considered the father of modern industrialization, classified cutting tools into two primary divisions: single-edge tools and multi-edge tools. These classifications have been fundamental in the design and categorization of cutting tools in the metal mechanical industry.

There are two main types of cutting tools: alesadoras and multifilo. Alesadoras have between two and 100 cutting edges and are used in milling machines, drills, and machining centers. Multifilo tools fulfill the same basic function of chip removal. Tools can also be categorized as static or rotating. Static tools remain fixed on the machine and work on the pieces through the rotational movement of the machine. Rotating tools are installed on a rotating spindle, allowing them to act on the stationary piece.

In the United States, engineer Frederick Winslow Taylor revolutionized the tool industry with the invention of high-speed steel. This material, when applied to cutting tools, opened up incredible possibilities. The tools made with high-speed steel were found to be much more efficient, doubling or tripling the productivity compared to previous tools. This innovation led to a significant advancement in the metalworking market, prompting machine tool manufacturers to adapt and improve their machines to leverage the benefits of these cutting tools.

Frederick Winslow Taylor's work on tool design and cutting angles, based on experiences with various materials, particularly steels, continues to be relevant as a manufacturing standard worldwide. Taylor's research, involving around 400,000 tons of materials, led to the classification of cutting tools into three categories: positive, neutral, and negative. Positive tools are designed for sharper cutting angles, suitable for challenging materials like certain steels, brass, and aluminum. Neutral tools, while also positive in practice, have less acute cutting angles, making them more suitable for stable materials like certain steels, copper, bronze, and titanium. Negative tools have straight cutting angles and are used for machining steel castings of any type.

In the early 20th century, the evolution of cutting tools was driven by the deformation of materials rather than cutting. New materials prompted advancements in tools. In 1906, Taylor experimented with adding vanadium to tools, significantly improving their performance. This led to the development of high-speed steels (HSS) known for their enhanced properties.

Around 1927, hard metals emerged, overshadowing the popularity of HSS. Hard metals, also known as tungsten carbide, gained prominence for their hardness and durability, posing a challenge to the dominance of HSS tools in the 1920s and 30s.

The introduction of high-speed steel tools marked a shift in machining practices. These tools, incorporating cobalt, tungsten, chromium, and other elements, revolutionized cutting processes. They became widely used in milling machines, offering a versatile and efficient alternative for large-scale production.

In Germany, post-World War I, a significant discovery revolutionized cutting tools. This discovery, considered the most important of the 20th century, transformed cutting tool technology, enhancing precision and efficiency in machining processes.