The aim of this master's thesis is to deal with main thread production methods and to study the influence of coatings on tap cutting performance. The high-speed steel cutting taps with different PVD coatings (Physical Vapour Deposition) were tested, while the same cutting conditions were set. Cutting torques were measured and analysed, which together with the results of evaluation of tool wear led to conclusion.

In this diploma thesis, literary research about drilling and coating technology focused on PVD coatings was performed. Furthermore, there is an overview of cutting materials. In the experimental part of the work, the attention is dedicated to tests of twist drills from cemented carbide and high-speed steel materials. For these drills, the feed force Ff and the cutting moment Mc were measured when drilling into austenitic stainless steel. At the end of this work, the technical and economic evaluation of the practical part is presented.

This thesis, in its theoretical part deals with the process of cutting, abrasion-resistant layers properties and their contribution to increasing of cutting properties. The second part of the thesis is experimental. It aims to determine, compare and subsequently evaluate cutting properties of threading tools using matrix taps with different types of PVD coatings. During implementation of the experiment, constant cutting conditions have been ensured and the only variable was the different types of coating layers. Outcome of the experiment is measurement of cutting torques in relation on time and rate of wear of cutting tools.

This diploma thesis deals with HSS cutting taps performance in combination with very hard and tribological PVD coating application and their contribution to increasing of cutting properties. Then is described the mechanisms and forms of cutting tool wear. The goal of the experimental part of the thesis was determine, compare and subsequently evaluate cutting properties of threading tools using taps with different types of PVD coatings. During realization of the experiment, constant cutting conditions have been ensured and the only variable were the different types of coating layers. The result of the experiment was measurement of cutting torques depending on time and rate of wear of cutting tools. Measured value are statistically processed and drawn conclusion.

The first part of work provides definition of basic parameters of threads, type of threads. Further work includes description of tools, material of tools and cutting forces. The final part of work deals with analysis course of cutting forces, analysis course wear and analysis surface structure of threads.

Abrasive waterjet (AWJ) cutting is one of the most recently developed nontraditional manufacturing technologies. It has been increasingly used in industry owing to its various distinct advantages over the other cutting technologies. However, many aspects of this technology require to be fully understood in order to increase its capability and cutting performance as well as to optimize the cutting process. This thesis contains an extensive literature review on the investigations of the various aspects in AWJ machining. It shows that while considerable work has been carried out, very little reported research has been found on the AWJ contouring process although it is a common AWJ cutting application. Because of the very nature of the AWJ cutting process, the changing nozzle traverse direction involved in AWJ contouring results in kerf geometrical or shape errors. A thorough understanding of the AWJ contouring process is essential for the reduction or elimination of these shape errors. It also shows that a lack of understanding of the AWJ hydrodynamic characteristics has limited the development of cutting performance models that are required for process control and optimization. Accordingly, a detailed experimental investigation is presented in this thesis to study the various cutting performance measures in AWJ contouring of an 87% alumina ceramic over a wide range of process parameters. For a comparison purpose, the study also considers AWJ straight-slit cutting. The effects of process parameters on the major cutting performance measures in AWJ contouring have been comprehensively discussed and plausible trends are amply analysed. It finds that the taper angles on the two kerf walls are in different magnitudes in AWJ contouring. The kerf taper on the outer kerf wall increases with the arc radius (or profile curvature), while that on the inner kerf wall decreases. Moreover, the depth of cut increases with an increase in arc radius and approaches the maximum in straight cutting for a given combination of parameters. The other process variables affect the AWJ contouring process in a way similar to that in straight cutting. The analysis has provided a guideline for the selection of process parameters in the AWJ contouring of alumina ceramics. In order to predict the cutting performance in process planning and ultimately optimize the cutting process, mathematical models for the major cutting performance measures in both straight-slit cutting and contouring are developed using a dimensional analysis technique. The models are then verified by assessing both qualitatively and quantitatively the model predictions with respect to the corresponding experimental data. It shows that the models can adequately predict the cutting performance measures and form the essential basis for developing strategies for selecting the optimum process parameters in AWJ cutting. To achieve an in-depth understanding of the jet dynamic characteristics such as the velocity and pressure distributions inside a jet, a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation is carried out using a Fluent6 flow solver and the simulation results are validated by an experimental investigation. The water and particle velocities in the jet are obtained under different input and boundary conditions to provide an insight into the jet characteristics and a good understanding of the kerf formation process in AWJ cutting. Various plausible trends and characteristics of the water and particle velocities are analysed and discussed, which provides the essential knowledge for optimizing the jet performance through optimizing the jetting and abrasive parameters. Mathematical models for the water and particle velocity distributions in an AWJ are finally developed and verified by comparing the predicted jet characteristics with the corresponding CFD simulation data. It shows that the jet characteristics models can yield good predictions for both water and particle velocity distributions in an AWJ. The successful development of these jet dynamic characteristics models is an essential step towards developing more comprehensive mathematical cutting performance models for AWJ cutting and eventually developing the optimization strategies for the effective and efficient use of this advanced manufacturing technology.

Abrasive waterjet (AWJ) cutting is one of the most recently developed manufacturing technologies. It is superior to many other cutting techniques in processing various materials, particularly in processing difficult-to-cut materials. This technology is being increasingly used in various industries. However, its cutting capability in terms of the depth of jet penetration and kerf quality is the major obstruction limiting its further applications. More work is required to fully understand the cutting process and cutting mechanism, and to optimise cutting performance. This thesis presents a comprehensive study on the controlled nozzle oscillation technique aiming at increasing the cutting performance in AWJ machining. In order to understand the current state and development in AWJ cutting, an extensive literature review is carried out. It has found that the reported studies on controlled nozzle oscillation cutting are primarily about the use of large oscillation angles of 10 degrees or more. Nozzle oscillation in the cutting plane with such large oscillation angles results in theoretical geometrical errors on the component profile in contouring. No published attempt has been found on the study of oscillation cutting under small angles although it is a common application in practice. Particularly, there is no reported research on the integration of nozzle oscillation technique into AWJ multipass cutting, which is expected to significantly enhance the cutting performance. An experimental investigation is first undertaken to study the major cutting performance measures in AWJ single pass cutting of an 87% alumina ceramic with controlled nozzle oscillation at small angles. The trends and characteristics of cutting performance quantities with respect to the process parameters as well as the science behind which nozzle oscillation affects the cutting performance have been analysed. It has been shown that as with oscillation cutting at large angles, oscillation at small angles can have an equally significant impact on the cutting performance. When the optimum cutting parameters are used for both nozzle oscillation and normal cutting, the former can statistically increase the depth of cut by 23% and smooth depth of cut by 30.8%, and reduce kerf surface roughness by 11.7% and kerf taper by 54%. It has also been found that if the cutting parameters are not selected properly, nozzle oscillation can reduce some major cutting performance measures. In order to correctly select the process parameters and to optimise the cutting process, the mathematical models for major cutting performance measures have then been developed. The predictive models for the depth of cut in both normal cutting and oscillation cutting are developed by using a dimensional analysis technique. Mathematical models for other major cutting performance measures are also developed with the aid of empirical approach. These mathematical models are verified both qualitatively and quantitatively based on the experimental data. The assessment reveals that the developed models conform well to the experimental results and can provide an effective means for the optimum selection of process variables in AWJ cutting with nozzle oscillation. A further experimental investigation of AWJ cutting of alumina ceramics is carried out in order to study the application of AWJ oscillation technique in multipass cutting. While high nozzle traverse speed with multipass can achieve overall better cutting performance than low traverse speed with single pass in the same elapsed time, it has been found that the different combination of nozzle traverse speed with the number of passes significantly affects cutting process. Optimum combination of nozzle traverse speed with the number of passes is determined to achieve maximum depth of cut. It has also demonstrated that the multipass cutting with low nozzle traverse speed in the first pass and a comparatively high traverse speed for the following passes is a sensible choice for a small kerf taper requirement. When nozzle oscillation is incorporated into multipass cutting, it can greatly increase the depth of cut and reduce kerf taper. The predictive models for the depth of cut in both multipass normal cutting and multipass oscillation cutting are finally developed. With the help of dimensional analysis, the models of the incremental cutting depth for individual pass are derived based on the developed depth of cut models for single pass cutting. The models of depth of cut for a multipass cutting operation are then established by the sum of the incremental cutting depth from each pass. A numerical analysis has verified the models and demonstrated the adequacy of the models' predictions. The models provide an essential basis for the development of optimization strategies for the effective use of the AWJ cutting technology when the multipass cutting technique is used with controlled nozzle oscillation.

This thesis deals with the cutting of steel thin-walled parts by slitting saw. Its subject is to study and test of cutting edges of slitting saws with a goal to reduce cutting forces to a minimum. The thesis is divided into the theoretical and practical part. In the theoretical part, existing knowledge about slitting saws and general cutting technology is analyzed. In the practical part testing of four slitting saws with different geometries of cutting edges during machining of chosen thin-walled part is performed. The performed measurements show that by the proper choice of the geometry of cutting edge, the cutting force can be reduced approximately by 30 %.