Manufacturing Knowledge Base

Knives are one of the oldest known tool types used for deburring. They provide a quick edge-cutting action, and can accommodate almost any part configuration and material. Knives can be sharpened easily so they will last for many years, and they can be made in many different configurations to meet product needs. Knives come in many forms as described in this chapter such as a swivel tool for metal contours and holes, triangular cross section for part contours, oval blade for burrs on holes, surgical or hobby knife to de-flash plastics, bench knife to scrape metals or cut plastics, utility knife to de-flash plastic, hook knife for thin flashing, cone end to deburr holes in hard-to-reach areas, chisel knife for hard-to-reach areas, hot blade electric heater systems to cut or melt plastic flash, sprues, or runners, commutator slot shaver ull knife to chamfer edges by shearing, special knives to deburr unusual locations and unusual features, pocketknife which is not a good choice for deburring, razor blade to de-flashing and nonmetals. Knives are inherently dangerous. They are designed to cut. In normal use, with skilled operators, knives do not present a safety problem.