Re: Cutting with diamond

The other thing is why would a drill sharpening company use diamond wheels.
They need to cut cobalt alloys of steel.  The diamonds do wear down but are
burnished into the metal.  I've not noticed problems with the drills.
Knowing that these are not cooled (should have been) the temp is very high
at the contact surface.

Martin

Martin Eastburn
@ home at Lions' Lair with our computer lionslair at consolidated dot net
NRA LOH & Endowment Member
NRA Second Amendment Task Force Charter Founder



Ed wrote: 
ricarrios@xxxxxxxxx wrote:

Dear friends


I have recently heard that it is not appropriate to cut steel with
diamond wheels, because the high wear of the cutting wheel. The reason
which explains this fact is that carbon from the diamond diffusses to
the steel (carburizing), when sufficient heat is produced (cutting
without lubrication or refrigeration). Is this assesment true? We
normally cut steel with Alumina or SiC wheels when preparing specimens
for metallography.


Thank you 



I think by "not appropriate" you mean low tool life? - kinda bizzare
since tool life is relative or more to the point an economic question -
low tool life is acceptable if you have no further options (diamond
wire saws -also used to cut stone - have been used to cut up
contaiminated nuclear vessels -Google "diamond+wire+saw")

Carburizing of iron/steel (unless under low oxygen partial pressures)
is not possible since carbon oxidizes before it combines with steel -
Bessemer Converter anyone?
Leco (and other metallographic supplies) sell diamond wheel (copper
based) as standard equipment - I never have a problem cutting steel
samples (For FA) with diamond wheels with or without lubricant - it
very dependent on the quality of the wheel you are using i.e. how the
diamonds are held in the wheel (or wire) copper or nickel sintered or
brazed (under neutral or reducing atmosphere).

You can check this out very simply by cutting nails with a Dremel Tool
using their standard diamond blade ~ $13 per blade - American Science
Center in St Charles, IL has small (3/4") and larger (1.5") diameter
diamond wheels for alot less (check websites)

Ed Vojcak


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