I'm thinking that there are three possible ways to cut any material...

1. oxidize it along the cut line. For example, burning through with
an oxy- acetylene torch. This is often called "burning" in the
metal trades.

2. tear it apart with a force that exceeds the tensile strength. I
don't know
the proper term for this process.

3. push through it with a force that exceeds the compressive
strength. I also
don't know the proper term for this process.



Am I correct?

what tools do what? For example, what exactly does a scissors do? Is
that different than what a knife does?

Alan Horowitz wrote:

I'm thinking that there are three possible ways to cut any material...

1. oxidize it along the cut line. For example, burning through with
an oxy- acetylene torch. This is often called "burning" in the
metal trades.


No oxidation in inert envirinments with ortch or laser

many materials can be melted or vaporized without oxidation

Alan Horowitz wrote:

I'm thinking that there are three possible ways to cut any material...

4. Water jet cutting.

5. Sandblasting.

6. E-beam cutting.

7. EDM.

8. Chemical milling.

I'm sure I could think of others, if I bothered
to spend another 30 seconds thinking about it.

Alan Horowitz wrote:



Also melt it and pour the results into little molds.

Bob Kolker

Alan Horowitz wrote:

I'm thinking that there are three possible ways to cut any material...

1. oxidize it along the cut line. For example, burning through with
an oxy- acetylene torch. This is often called "burning" in the
metal trades.

2. tear it apart with a force that exceeds the tensile strength. I
don't know
the proper term for this process.

3. push through it with a force that exceeds the compressive
strength. I also
don't know the proper term for this process.

Shear cutting. KA-CHUK!

Am I correct?

what tools do what? For example, what exactly does a scissors do? Is
that different than what a knife does?

4) Melt (laser in argon).
5) Electroform (electrochemically dissolve the part line metal)
6) Abrasive cutting - alumina entrained in high pressure/high
velocity water.
7) Corrode the part line - acid (and alkali on aluminum, titanium,
zinc...).
8) Part line failure through flexure and work-hardening.
9) Intergranular corrosion (gallium chemically plated onto aluminum
in tension).

Getting stuff apart is not nearly the problem of keeping it intact.
"8^)

--
Uncle Al
http://www.mazepath.com/uncleal/
(Toxic URL! Unsafe for children and most mammals)
"Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?" The Net!

(Alan Horowitz) wrote:

I'm thinking that there are three possible ways to cut any material...

1. oxidize it along the cut line. For example, burning through with
an oxy- acetylene torch. This is often called "burning" in the
metal trades.

2. tear it apart with a force that exceeds the tensile strength. I
don't know
the proper term for this process.

3. push through it with a force that exceeds the compressive
strength. I also
don't know the proper term for this process.

A lot of other methods have already been suggested. Another one that
comes to mind: ultrasonic cutting.

Failure Modes:
Gross yielding
Buckling
Creep
Brittle fracture
Fatigue, low cycle
Fatigue, high cycle
Contact fatigue
Fretting
Corrosion
Stress-corrosion cracking
Galvanic corrosion
Hydrogen embrittlement
Wear
Thermal fatigue
Corrosion fatigue

"Tom Walz" wrote in message
om...
Failure Modes:
Gross yielding
Buckling
Creep
Brittle fracture
Fatigue, low cycle
Fatigue, high cycle
Contact fatigue
Fretting
Corrosion
Stress-corrosion cracking
Galvanic corrosion
Hydrogen embrittlement
Wear
Thermal fatigue
Corrosion fatigue

Shearing
Bearing
Compression
Adiabatic Shear
Melting
Over-aging
Thermal shock

Mark Folsom wrote:

"Tom Walz" wrote in message
om...
Failure Modes:
Gross yielding
Buckling
Creep
Brittle fracture
Fatigue, low cycle
Fatigue, high cycle
Contact fatigue
Fretting
Corrosion
Stress-corrosion cracking
Galvanic corrosion
Hydrogen embrittlement
Wear
Thermal fatigue
Corrosion fatigue

Shearing
Bearing
Compression
Adiabatic Shear
Melting
Over-aging
Thermal shock

And the ever-popular V-groove shaped explosive. Slurry wire saw too.

--
Uncle Al
http://www.mazepath.com/uncleal/
(Toxic URL! Unsafe for children and most mammals)
"Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?" The Net!