What makes a cutting tool cut?

Question

I'm looking for more basic.
1. The cutting edge must be harder than the work.
2.There must be enough mass behind the cutting edge to move the cutting edge through the work.
3. There must be enough force to push the cutting edge through the work.

Now is there more to a cutting edge than this?

Answer 1

The best answer to this question would very long. The quick and dirty response is:

Cutting tools in metalwork apply a compressive force to the work piece. The compressive force overcomes the forces holding the atoms together and and the material begins to slip along planes of irregular crystal stucture. The effected zone is reffered to as the shear zone.

Again this is short answer. Probably raised more questions than it answered.

Answer 2

The sharp edge against a moving piece (or a moving sharp edge on a fixed piece).
The sharp edge works as a knife and the motion gives it the required forces to break the piece.

Answer 3

Metal (for example) resists cutting. A cutting tool must overcome the resistance by having enough driving power, enough hardness to remain sharp, the correct angles to resist chatter and to remove chips. Speed of the tool (or work piece) and depth of the cut are important and lubrication to reduce or remove heat produces better cuts and longer tool life. Experienced machinists must know how to re-grind their own tools to maintain correct angles to cut efficiently.

Answer 4

The sharp blade pushed down against whatever you are cutting and drawn along by the force of your hand.

Answer 5

Cutting tool basically has three angles

ALPHA = Cutting Angle
BETA = Lip Angle
GAMMA = Clearence Angle

Answer 6

if you are talking about a lath or mill tool, it's harder than the metal being cut and must be ground to the correct angle to cause metal removal