Unlike the familiar kitchen knives, specialized knives are used in industry. Their simplicity, low cost, and continuous improvement contribute to their popularity and widespread use in enterprises across various sectors. Despite the existence and advancement of laser and plasma cutting technologies, industrial knives remain relevant due to their affordability, ease of maintenance, and irreplaceability in certain applications where laser and plasma cutters are not suitable.
Cutting is utilized in all sectors of modern production today. Depending on the materials being cut, different types of facas industriais are used.
Types of Industrial Knives
- Facas de disco: These are not used only in heavy industry. They are most popular in marcenaria, meat production, agricultural machinery, and rubber processing. The wide popularity of disc knives has led to their standardization.
- Plate Knives: These knives feature a thickening that starts from the sharp edge and leads to the center of the disc. They are used to obtain beveled cuts. Plate knives are manufactured by stamping and cutting, and custom designs are also common.
- Facas de guilhotina: Also known as chopping or cutting knives, these are used for cutting metal, cardboard, polyethylene, and other materials. Both the knives themselves and the shape of the sharpened edge can vary, so they are often custom-made based on specific drawings.
- Toothed Knives: In addition to cutting, these knives also perforate products. They are used universally, leading to standardization in their production and the equipment they are used in.
- Zigzag Knives: These facas industriais are primarily used in the packaging sector and are typically custom-made based on customer drawings.
- Tenon Knives: Tenoning machines require special tenon knives in their cutters. These are used for cutting tenons, which are then used to join products, for example.
- Planing Knives: These knives allow for the production of wood shavings during cutting. Their production adheres to established standards.
- Band Knives: These primarily cut products in light industry, such as napkins, towels, and non-woven materials.
The quality of industrial knife products directly impacts a company's profits and losses. Therefore, durable alloy steel, skilled professionals, and precise cutting machines are essential for achieving high-quality results.
Steel Grades Used in Knife Production
The following table lists some of the steel grades commonly used in the production of facas industriais, along with their chemical compositions:
| № | Import | Domestic Analogs, GOST | C | Si | Mn | Cr | Mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HSS (DIN 1.3343) | P6M5 | 0.9 | 0.45 | 0.4 | 4.15 | 4.95 |
| 2 | SKD-11 (DIN 1.2379) | X12MF | 1.55 | 1.25 | 0.3 | 11.5 | 0.7 |
| 3 | SK5 | U8G | 0.85 | 0.32 | 0.6 | ||
| 4 | SUJ2 (DIN 1.3505) | ShKh15 | 0.95-1.05 | 0.17-0.37 | 0.2-0.4 | 1.3-1.65 | |
| 5 | 9CrSi | 9XC | 0.95 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 1.25 | |
| 6 | SUS420 (DIN 1.4034) | 40X13 | 0.46 | 1 | 1 | 13.5 | |
| 7 | SUS301 (DIN 1.4310) | 07X16H6 | 0.05-0.15 | 2 | 2 | 16-19 | 0.08 |
| 8 | SUS440C (DIN 1.4125) | 110X18 | 0.95-1.2 | 1 | 1 | 16-18 | 0.75 |
Steel Grade Descriptions
- SUJ2: This is a bearing structural steel used for manufacturing knives that operate under low load conditions with materials that do not require high strength or wear resistance. It is widely used in industry for producing balls up to 150 mm in diameter, bearing rings, valves, and other parts requiring high hardness and contact strength. It achieves a hardness of 55-62 HRC upon quenching. It is often used by foreign manufacturers like Misiqi for producing knives (disc, plate, and counter knives) due to its ease of processing and low cost compared to steels like HSS and SKD-11. This steel is widely available and does not have outstanding characteristics for knife production.
- 9CrSi: This is an alloyed tool steel used for manufacturing knives that operate under low load conditions with low productivity, for materials that do not require high wear resistance or quality work. It is used for tools (drills, reamers, combs) that process soft materials at low speeds. The steel is inexpensive and easy to process, achieving a surface hardness of 59-63 HRC upon quenching. It is widely used by Misiqi in the production of woodworking knives of simple configuration (peeling, keyway, crushing) for performing simple operations with low precision.
- SK5: This is a carbon tool steel used for manufacturing knives that operate under conditions that do not cause the cutting edge to heat up. It is mainly used for knives working under moderate loads with materials that do not require high tool strength (soft metals, wood, plastic, polyethylene). The steel is also used for knives subjected to elastic loads (spring plates and discs). It achieves a hardness of no more than 62 HRC upon quenching. In industry, it is used by Misiqi for producing rolling rollers, molds, gauges of simple shape and reduced accuracy classes, and for manufacturing flat and spiral springs and complex-shaped spring parts. This steel is indispensable in productions where knives are subjected to elastic loads.
- SUS420, SUS301, SUS440C: These are corrosion-resistant, heat-resistant stainless steels used for manufacturing knives that operate in aggressive environments at temperatures up to 450 degrees Celsius. They can be used for springs, bearings, and leaf springs operating in aggressive environments when heated to 450 degrees Celsius. They are used by Misiqi for manufacturing knives in produção de alimentos (in contact with food products), surgical instruments, and items in the chemical industry. They achieve a hardness of no more than 55 HRC upon quenching. In industry, they are used for producing cutting and measuring tools, springs, household items, bearings, compressor parts, and other products operating at temperatures up to 400-450 °C. These steel grades are indispensable for food productions and productions where knives are exposed to oxidants and temperatures up to 450 degrees Celsius.
- SKD-11: This is a die tool steel used for manufacturing knives that operate under conditions of increased wear. The steel has a good combination of strength and impact toughness, allowing it to handle most material cutting tasks at moderate temperatures. It achieves a hardness of no more than 62 HRC upon quenching. It is widely used by Misiqi in industry for manufacturing guillotine knives, complex-shaped die-cutting tools (dies, punches, perforating dies) working with metals and other materials. It has excellent wear resistance when used in guillotine-type knives, allowing for cutting (chopping) materials, including metals.
- HSS: This is a high-speed tool steel used for manufacturing knives that operate under conditions of increased wear and high temperatures. It handles cutting any materials, including metal, and retains its characteristics when heated up to 500 degrees Celsius. It achieves a hardness of no more than 63 HRC upon quenching. It has increased wear resistance when operating under friction and heating conditions. It is widely used by Misiqi for manufacturing metal-cutting tools (disc knives, drills, milling cutters). It is second only to hard alloys in its characteristics.