Mechanical working

The cast polyamides Novilon can be worked as well as metals, taking in account their specific characteristics. The most important characteristics are:

• greater deformability compared to the metals
• considerably smaller elasticity modulus
• weaker temperature resistance
• weak heat conductivity

Gripping a work piece

The correct gripping of a work piece is of great importance for the manufacture of the quality product. Since the Novilon is elastic, the gripping shall not be too tight, otherwise the work piece would be deformed when outgripped. When turning, the free end of the gripped work piece should be as short as possible in order to avoid unwanted deformations and vibrations.
In certain cases, at milling, when a sufficiently large flat surface is available, the vacuum grip proves very satisfactory. Due to the weak cutting strength at the working of Novilon, especially at milling, some elements (bands, for instance) can be fastened on the table also by means of the two sided adhesive tape.

Tools

Standard tools for the working of metal, and partially also for the working of wood, can be used in the majority of cases of the machine working of Novilon. The tools can be made of the high-speed steels, as well as of metal carbide and metal oxide. The cutting angles on tools approach at the most to the angles for the working of bronze. The most important quality of tools is their sharpness. Thus we achieve smaller deformations and also a weaker development of heat. The life time of the tools at the working of Novilon is very long.

Velocities

The principal rule for the cutting of Novilon is: high cutting and feeding velocities. At the working of Novilon the standard machines for the working of metals can operate at the upper limit velocity of cutting and feeding.

Heating or heat development

Care should be taken, due to the weak heat conductivity of Novilon, not to develop too extensive local heating and consequently the damage of the material. For this reason the tools shall be sharp and correctly ground. It is recommended to take off the thinner layer of material during the final phase in order to preserve in this way the surface thermally intact. The cooling with water, air, or emulsion, can be applied at large cutting velocities and a large taking off of material. The cooling media are recommended also in long production cycles, where the long life time of the tools is of great importance.