Defined abrasion procedures for cutting blades and comparative mechanical and geometrical wear characterization

Procedures for the determination of cutting blade sharpness are based on mechanical methods (i.e., cutting tests) or image analysis to obtain geometrical properties (e.g., tip radius or tip offset). Any testing of the resistance of cutting blades against mechanical wear demands procedures which allow a defined and reliable abrasion. This study presents methods for the controlled abrasion of blades by time-controlled rotation in a bed of corundum and the resulting impact on cutting ability, which was evaluated by cutting of an elastomer. The impact on geometrical blade properties was analyzed microscopically by applying a replica technique. The results demonstrate that the extent of blade sharpness reduction significantly depends on the geometrical configuration of the abrasion procedure. It is also evident that mechanical blade analysis is much more sensitive in detecting wear than the geometrical approach, and is more suitable to elaborate differences in blade sharpness.