How to sharpen guillotine knives?

Category : BLOG

Key Takeaways:

  • Material-Specific Sharpening: Different materials require specific sharpening angles and techniques to maintain blade efficiency.
  • Professional Sharpening Recommended: Due to the precision needed, it’s best to have guillotine knives sharpened by professionals with the right equipment.
  • Manual Sharpening Challenges: Achieving the necessary precision manually is difficult without specialized machinery.
  • Regular Maintenance: Monitoring blade performance and scheduling regular sharpening can prolong the knife’s life and ensure consistent cutting quality.

The processing of materials requires them to be properly sized already at the stage of preparing the raw material. One of the most frequently used solutions is guillotine cutting, i.e. it takes place with the use of blades lowered in the vertical plane, which penetrates the cut structure due to pressure. An important element of these types of machines is the cutting edges used in them, which must retain their geometry and at the same time guarantee the appropriate strength. As the tool wears out during operation, its shape must be reproduced by the process of sharpening guillotine blades. Let’s see how to sharpen guillotine knives.

How to sharpen guillotine knives depending on their purpose?

The geometry of the guillotine blades and the type of alloy they are made of depends on the type of materials being cut.

In the case of cutting cellulose products, as well as products of the printing industry, they can even be made of tool steel, and their sharpening consists in obtaining an inclined edge at an angle depending on the hardness of the products handled. Similar rules apply to cutting plastics and wood-based products, e.g. veneers.

When it comes to cutting sheet metal, the material used to make the knife must be harder. It can be, for example, high-speed steel, but also an alloy with the addition of cemented carbide. The blades are often coated to increase hardness. For cutting metal, the angle at which the knives are sharpened is usually close to 90°.

Who can sharpen a guillotine?

Sharpening guillotine knives requires experience and the use of appropriate equipment that will be able to plan the surface of the cutting edge with the required precision, and at the same time handle the hardness of the material used. This service is performed only by companies with advanced metal processing facilities.

For many years, MultiMasz has been specializing in guillotine parts, producing custom-made guillotine blades for steel cutting, and sharpening blades for sheet metal processing.

FAQ:

What materials are guillotine knives made of?
Guillotine knives are crafted from various materials depending on their intended use: Tool Steel for cutting cellulose products and items in the printing industry; High-Speed Steel (HSS) for cutting sheet metal; Alloys with Cemented Carbide for their hardness when cutting metals; Coated Blades to enhance hardness and durability. The choice of material influences the sharpening angle and technique.

How should guillotine knives be sharpened?
The sharpening process varies based on the material being cut: For cellulose and printing products, sharpening involves obtaining an inclined edge at an angle depending on the hardness of the products handled; For sheet metal, harder materials like HSS or alloys with cemented carbide are required. The sharpening angle is usually close to 90°. It’s essential to match the sharpening technique to the material to ensure optimal performance.

Who can sharpen guillotine knives?
Sharpening guillotine knives requires experience and specialized equipment capable of planning the surface of the cutting edge with the required precision. This service is typically performed by companies with advanced metal processing facilities.

Can I sharpen guillotine knives myself?
While it’s possible to sharpen guillotine knives manually, achieving the necessary precision and maintaining the blade’s geometry is challenging without the proper equipment. Therefore, it’s advisable to seek professional sharpening services to ensure the blade’s integrity and performance.

How often should guillotine knives be sharpened?
The frequency of sharpening depends on the material being cut and the volume of work: For cellulose and printing products, sharpening intervals vary based on usage; For sheet metal, due to the hardness of the material, sharpening may be required more frequently. Regular maintenance and monitoring of the blade’s performance can help determine the appropriate sharpening schedule.

About the author

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MultiMasz

MultiMasz is a privately-owned company with over 20 years of experience in the machine tools industry. We provide a wide range of spare parts and accessories for European-origin machine tools and specialize in the repair, maintenance, and overhaul of lathes, grinding machines, and milling machine components.

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