Orthogonal cutting force is a fundamental parameter to design cutting tools and to determine to the required power necessary to operate a sawmill. This force varies within different species, and as a function of the wood condition (density, moisture content, fiber orientation), tool shape (sharpness angle, clearance angle, blade thickness and width) as well as of the cutting equipment (rake angle, forward velocity, cutting speed, chip thickness and width). The 90-90 cutting is extremely important because it occurs during end-grain cutting. The reforestation species, in particular the eucalyptus, are acquiring increasing importance in the Brazilian domestic and export timber market. This paper reports the results of 90-90 orthogonal cutting tests, conducted using specimens from three species of Eucalyptus: citriodora, saligna and grandis. The results show the influence of the machining parameters in the cutting forces and indicate its relevance in order to optimize the wood machining process.
Eucalyptus; machining; cutting force
