Wear
Wear refers to the gradual deterioration of a tool or workpiece caused by mechanical, thermal or chemical stress during use.
In thread cutting, wear occurs primarily on the cutting edges of taps and dies. Typical causes are:
- Friction between tool and workpiece material
- High temperatures during machining
- Unsuitable cutting materials or coatings
- Missing or incorrect cooling/lubrication
Consequences of wear include unclean thread surfaces, increased effort, tool breakage or significantly shortened tool life.
Wear can be significantly reduced through suitable coatings (e.g. TiN, TiAlN), the use of appropriate cutting fluids and selecting the correct cutting speed.