Steel is a material that we are all familiar with… and for good reason. It’s versatile, fairly easy to work with, and less expensive than materials of similar hardness. That being said, steel can be scary to cut, especially with a low-horsepower machine, but it doesn’t have to be!
Our mission here at Tormach is to empower people who make things, and what better way to do that by sharing the stories of the Tormaker Community - people just like you.
Strain hardening, or work hardening as it is more often called, is the hardening of metal by plastic deformation. It can be a problem or a benefit in metalworking. Learn what it is and how to avoid or encourage it in this article.
At first glance, using a plasma cutter, a water jet, or a laser cutter might seem awfully similar. And to a certain degree, they are. All three predominantly use two axes and are often used for large, flat work - signs come to mind more often than anything.
Our mission here at Tormach is to empower people who make things, and what better way to do that by sharing the stories of the Tormach Community - people just like you.
Machinists face many problems and challenges when manufacturing gummy materials. These types of materials include low carbon steels, stainless steels, nickel alloys, titanium, copper, and metals with high chromium content. Gummy materials have a tendency to produce long, stringy chips, and are prone to creating built-up edge. These common problems can impact surface finish, tool life, and part tolerances.
