Cutting Tools Tuned for Dust Evacuation Can Save Wear by 30%

Optimized dust evacuation begins at the cutting tool, says Leitz. Conventional cutting gullet design ejects a large percentage of the chips and dust into the tool path. Chips can then be “re-cut” many times before falling away from the cut.

Cutting Tools Tuned for Dust Evacuation Can Save Wear by 30% This re-cutting of chips and dust causes unnecessary tool damage and reduced service life. Eliminating it protects tool cutting edges and improves service life by 30% or more, according to Leitz.

Dust hoods should not be viewed only as an essential safety device, says Leitz. A well-designed hood will work in conjunction with the tool to contain and evacuate the dust.

A primary obstacle to good dust hood design is converting high velocity chips to the lower velocity dust collection system, according to Leitz. Light dust particles with low kinetic energy are deflected by the air cushion and are generally not collected. The air flow also changes as the work-piece blocks the hood entry. 

A well designed dust hood will separate and capture chips and dust, while returning excess clean air to the work environment. Dust hoods shoudl also be engineered with the tool, machine, and operator in mind. Cutting Tools Tuned for Dust Evacuation Can Save Wear by 30%

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