Machine Blades

[key cabin]

I started a thread on the subject of Key Machine Blades some time ago and how quickly they deteriate, i got a mail from a company called Keyways Uk (Davenport Burgess rebranded)and in this they are pushing a new style of key cutting blade made from titanium.

They claim that these blades will stay sharper and last longer than the standard ones sold to us today, so i sent off for some for my Lancer Pluss, early indications are that they are very much sharper than the ones bought previously (although i have only had them a week), so what i intend to do is keep you all updated as to whether they deteriate as fast as the others or if they stay sharper longer. I know it will all depend upon how many keys are cut and if the key is brass or nickle, so i am logging everything down.

Whatch this space!!!!!!

[Mick Friend]

=D> =D> =D> =D>

Great idea

 

when your done I would like to publish in the LASM please

[Paul_]

Keyways are a small independant key supplier from Devon. They mainly stock Davenport keys and also sell accessories etc.

[Davenport Burgess]

This type of coating is nothing new but it is debateable whether the extra cost is justified. There are other better coatings available, but they are more expensive and do not have an attractive finish.

 

The result of Titanium coating is a very shiny gold coloured cutter. The coating is an extremely hard microscopic layer, and it protects the cutter itself from the debris produced during cutting, which is the main contributor to cutter wear. It will not protect the cutter from abusive use by machine operators, or strengthen the cutter enough to prevent teeth chipping through excessive force. Many Chinese origin cutters are Titanium coated to help counteract the inferior quality. There is no guarantee that it will extend cutter life, although theoretically it should increase it by the length of time the coating takes to wear off. This time period will be governed by the following points, which are also the main factors affecting cutter wear.

 

1 The raw materials from which key blanks are made these days are not as pure or of the same chemical composition as raw material produced years ago. This is because of environmental legislation restricting the lead content, and also the spiralling costs of producing pure raw material.

 

Up until about 5 years ago, our cutters were made from standard high speed steel. They are now made from cobalt steel in order to produce a more durable product and help combat the raw material characteristics.

 

2 Key blanks are made from an assortment of raw materials: steel, brass, nickel silver, mazak and with different electro plated finishes as well. Most key cutters unavoidably use the same machine and consequently the same cutter for all types. To maximise the life of a cutter, it should always be used on one material type only.

 

3 Where there is manual machine operation using cutting tools, there can be enormous variation in the life of the cutting tool, dependant on the machine operator.

Any cutting tool should be allowed to “cut at its own speed” without undue pressure from the operator. This rarely happens, and inferior raw material compounds the detrimental effect of cutter abuse. Just as a change in driving habits can save you 20% in fuel costs, a change in cutting habits can seriously extend the life of your cutter!

[grahamparker]

do you sell anything with any form of coating in a 750sf cutter ?.