A lump of workpiece material that pressure-welds to the tool's rake face and edge, then grows and breaks off in cycles, carrying bits of carbide with it. It is common in aluminum, low-carbon steel and gummy stainless at low cutting speeds. It leaves a torn, smeared finish and erratic size, and is cured by higher surface speed, sharp polished or coated edges, more rake and good coolant.
Look at the aluminum welded on that insert, that's built-up edge, crank the speed and hit it with more coolant.
In aluminum, a sharp polished edge sheds built-up edge far better than a general-purpose steel-cutting coating.
Also heard as
- BUE
- edge build-up
Related terms
Feeds and speeds
The spindle speed and feed rate chosen for a cut, set from material, tool and machine.
SFM
Surface feet per minute: how fast the cutting edge moves across the work, the basis for spindle speed.
Insert
A small replaceable carbide or ceramic cutting tip clamped in a holder, indexed to a fresh edge when worn.
Suds
Shop name for water-soluble cutting coolant, the milky mix of oil concentrate and water.