Testing of Cutting Tools on a Pneumatic Experimental Device and Evaluation of Cutting Edge Wear Using a Non-Contact 3D Method

Abstract

This research is focused on the evaluation of cutting edge wear of the delimbing knife by contactless methods. Delimbing knives were tested in an experimental device constructed in our laboratory, which operates on the principle of a forest harvester head. The greatest wear of the cutting edge was manifested in knife no. 1 with a blade angle of ∢ 7°. The research was focused on the wear of delimbing knives made of DIN 58SiCr8/WNr material when changing the angular geometry of the tool and using a constant delimbing speed of 2.0 m.s−1 while delimbing spruce wood of various wood diameters. The Alicona Infinite Focus device, which functions as a non-contact 3D optical device, was used to determine the amount of wear on the cutting edge of the knife. The size of cutting edge wear significantly affects chipless cutting wood, which can be observed in an increase in the cutting force during the delimbing process. The use of harvester technology in forestry is a highly topical issue today. From this point of view, it is necessary to focus on increasing the efficiency and reducing the energy consumption of the machine, which economically benefits its delimbing operation.