ANALYSES OF CUTTING ENERGIES IN SLICING ALONG THE GRAIN OF WOOD

The cutting energy required in slicing along the grain of wood is the sum of separating energy, friction energy, elastic-strain energy, and plastic-stain energy. Here we developed a measuring method for each co mponent of the cutting energy in the stable cutting state. Cutting tes ts were made by advancing a knife gradually with advancing and retreat ing, accompanying the measurements of the cutting forces, the develope d length of advanced checks, and the deformation of the veneer. Using the results, the total cutting energy was divided theoretically into f our components. The proportion of the energy components varied with th e cutting conditions that gave the same cutting forces. As this fact i s related with the formation type of the veneer, we are convinced that it is important to know the components of the cutting energy, besides the cutting forces, in an analysis of the process of cutting wood. Th e proportion of the separation energy was very small. The sum of the f riction energy and the plastic strain energy was more than 80 percents of the total cutting energy, and the remainder was the elastic strain energy. We cannot neglect the elastic strain energy in an analysis of the slicing along the grain.