Wear characteristics and mechanisms of a thin edge cutting blade

This paper reports the wear characteristics and mechanisms of a thin edge c utting blade in a grass cutting operation. The study was made from two grou ps of AISI 1090 high carbon steel cutting blades with different heat treatm ent to obtain martensitic and bainitic microstructures. The cutting operati ons were carried out on a simulating ensilage cutting machine, with the wea r rate of the thin edge cutting blade being measured at various periods of cutting. The cutting blade specimens were examined by scanning electron mic roscope and changes of surface conditions were recorded. The wear character istics and mechanisms of the thin edge cubing tool is different from those of general mechanical parts and metallic cutting tools. There are only two stages of wear, namely, rapid wear and steady wear.(C) 2000 Elsevier Scienc e S.A. All rights reserved.