How are nut splitters manufactured? DNT Tools
Nut splitters are manufactured using a number of processes and techniques. Basic shapes of the nut splitter's frame, handle and chisel are formed using drop forging. This is then followed by grinding of the chisel and heat treating before the various parts have corrosion protective finishes applied.
What is drop forging?
Forging is a manufacturing process that deforms a metal rod or billet workpiece between two dies (a kind of mould). This can be done by either impacting one of the dies or applying a very high pressure to the dies in order to compress the workpiece between them.
Unlike other manufacturing methods such as casting, during the forging process, as the metal is compressed into the desired shape of the part, the grain structure within the metal is also forced to follow the same shape. This aligning of the grain structure results in a strengthening of the part produced.
Forging can be performed with either a hot or cold process. However, forging of steel is nearly always performed using the hot process which involves heating the metal rod or billet that is to be forged. By heating the workpiece it not only becomes easier to compress it to the desired shape but also prevents the resulting part from becoming too strong, which would make the subsequent machining difficult.
What is grinding?
Grinding is the process of using a bonded grinding wheel made of abrasive particles to remove material from a workpiece. The grinding wheel is a disc that is spun at high speed, and the workpiece is passed across the side face or circumference surface. Grinding can be done with discs made with grain sizes ranging from 8 (coarse) to 250 (very fine).
The finer the grain size, the better the surface finish on the workpiece will be. Grinding is used to form the point on the chisel of a nut splitter.
What is heat treating and tempering?
Heat treating and tempering are manufacturing processes used to alter the physical properties of metal and other materials. Heat treating involves heating the metal up to a very high temperature and then quenching (rapidly cooling) it. This increases the hardness of the metal, but will also make it more brittle.
Tempering is performed after heat treating, and also involves heating the metal, but to a lower temperature than heat treating, then letting it cool slowly. Tempering will decrease the hardness and brittleness of the metal, and at the same time increase its toughness.
