Moveable Blade
Overview
Focus:
Precise DimensionsIndustry:
IndustrialDimensions (mm):
160 x 120 x 9Weight (g):
2754-Year
16,500 Parts
Nickel Alloyed Steel
Precision Moulding
Optimal Control
Investment Casting
The part is a movable blade for a cable cutter. It is moved against a fixed blade in order to cut thick cables. It’s made in our facility in Riedlingen, Germany for a market primarily located in industrial sectors in the USA. We’ve been working with the customer since 2020 and so far we have delivered approximately 16,500 parts.
Material Selection
The material used for this component was 1.2767 (45NiCrMo16) nickel alloyed steel. The casting material needs to be very hard on the cutting edge, but tough on the inside. The edge decarburisation needed to be evened out.
Manufacturing Process
The blade needs to be flexible to enable precise cutting, especially for demanding tasks such as cutting cables and other materials that are difficult to work with.
This means that for production using the investment casting process the cutting edge of the knife must be moulded to fit precisely - a major challenge in terms of dimensional accuracy. A 0.3mm thick moulding lip for the investment casting is included in the process to enable us to achieve this. This is then ground down to achieve perfect sharpness. This vital step in the manufacturing process requires the high level of expertise and experience that Texmo Blank’s engineers are able to provide.
To facilitate this precise casting, a special measuring device was designed. The swivelling blade fixed to this device and was guided along, and the gearing is then moved past a dial gauge to check for dimensional accuracy. This makes the work of cutting considerably easier.
Quality Control
For this casting we work according to the drawing supplied by the customer. The drawing tolerances are measured and documented in the initial sample test report. During production we carry out random sample checks, and the toothed arc of the blade is given particular attention, randomly checked using a special measuring device.
We also carry out non-destructive tests including hardness testing, spectral analysis, fluorescent penetrant inspection and visual inspection.
Impact
Investment casting is the most suitable process for this part in terms of cost and quality. Milling from the solid is not viable due to the complex geometry of the part, and die casting is not suitable for this material. The toothing also eliminates sand casting as an option.
Because we are able to mould the gearing so precisely, the customer benefits from greater manageability of the cable cutters than they would with an alternative.
Get In Touch
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If that sounds like an investment castings partner you’d like to work with, you can book an introduction call with our friendly and knowledgeable New Relations Team — in a language and time zone to suit you.