Types of files: materials, principle of operation, application

Grinding of metal products is not always done with electric tools. Often for this work masters use different types of files. They, in comparison with electrical equipment, are much safer. The employee remains from a wide variety of tools to pick up the corresponding processed material. With this it is not difficult to master, if you know the subtleties of the work, all kinds of files and their purpose.

What is a file?

This tool is a product consisting of two parts:

1. Steel bar. On its surface on special patterns are incised notches. They can have several options. The most common types of notches Files - rectangular, triangular and round.
2. Wooden or plastic handle. Using a clamping ring to prevent it from cracking, it is attached to the cone-shaped shank. Designed for ease of use of the file. When the handle is broken it is easy to replace. Beech, birch and pressed paper are used for the production of the part. Its length must necessarily be one and a half times larger than the file shank.

The tool can have different sizes. The standard length is 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 cm. Diameter: 12, 16, 20, 23, 25 and 28 mm.

Operating principle

All Types of files belong to cutting tools. They are used to create the right sizes and shapes in the processed products. Files work by the method of layer-by-layer grinding of surfaces.

Materials

To produce this tool, a very hard, high-quality tool steel is used:

• Grades ШХ15 or 13Х. This is alloyed chrome steel.
• U10A or V13A. These grades are improved undoped.

The files are processed by hardening, resulting in a hardness of 54-58 HRC. These marks are used for the production of files intended for working with metal products. For wooden and other materials, tools are used, the steel of which is softer.

Single-scored tool

This notch (it is also called simple) is found in special files. The purpose of this tool is to remove during the filing of a small layer of metal. Special files are used to handle narrow surfaces. They are convenient to sharpen saws on wood. These products are designed to work with soft metals, wood and plastic.

Cross-section products

Files having a double notch refer to general-purpose tools. On the surface of these products, in addition to the main section, there is an additional one. The main section is intended for removing particles from the workpiece, and the auxiliary section is intended for grinding them into chips. Files with a double (accessory) notch are used when working with hard metals and alloys.

Files for metal. Kinds

GOST 1465-59 are the standards that are used in the production of locksmith files. Depending on the size of the incisions and their number on the 10 mm surface, the following tools are distinguished:

1. Drastic. Tools with a large notch. At 10 mm of the surface of the file there are up to 5-12 pieces. The smaller the number of notches, the larger the teeth. Consequently, more removal of particles is produced when the product is being filed.
2. Personal. Represented by products with an average notch. The number of teeth is up to 25 pieces.
3. Velvet. These are tools with the smallest notch. There are 80 teeth per 10 mm surface.

For convenience, when choosing the right tool, the types of files have their own numbers: drums - No. 1, personal - No. 2, velvet - No. 3-6.

Classification of tools by form

The workpieces have various shapes. For effective work with such products, the corresponding kinds of files are provided. They differ from each other in the shape of the profile (cross section). There are the following types of files:

• flat;
• square;
• trihedral;
• round;
• semicircular;
• special;
• Knife-like or hacksaw;
• Diamond-shaped;
• Oval file.

What kinds of Tools are, briefly outlined above. What are they for?

Appointment

A flat file is used for working with convex and flat external or internal surfaces. Square is used for working with square and rectangular holes and grooves. Such a tool is also called a bar. Its length is 35-50 cm. It is effective in cases where it is necessary to remove a layer of metal exceeding 1 mm. A triangular file is used when working with internal corners, grooves, holes and grooves. Round is needed for sawing concave surfaces. Used for working with round and oval holes.

Special files are used for processing angles, inclined and toothed surfaces. This type of tool makes a selection of narrow grooves and grooves. Drastic tools are equipped with the largest teeth and are intended for initial surface treatment, since they allow you to quickly remove a large layer (0,05-0,1 mm) from it. At the same time, these files have low accuracy. As a result, the working surface is treated roughly. Personal files are used for finishing filing. In this case, a layer with a thickness of 0.02-0.06 mm is removed. Velvet are used in the final phase of grinding. The thinnest layer (0.01-0.03 mm) is removed from the surface of the sawdust. These files have a high processing accuracy, which is 0.01-0.005 mm.

Rasp

In addition to locksmith files, rasps are used for processing metal and other surfaces, which are distinguished by their notches. Their teeth are large in size and shaped like pyramids, behind which are placed special grooves. The cross-section on this tool is arranged in rows, perpendicular to the axis. Rasps are used when processing soft materials: aluminum and duralumin. Produced from steel grades U7A, U10A. Their hardness is 35-40 HRC. The standard length of the tools: from 25 to 35 cm. There are four types of rasp: blunt-nosed flat, sharp-nosed flat, round, semicircular. The scope of the tool is medicine and the production of tin products.

Nadfili

Nafiles are the smallest files. Designed for very precise work. For the production of these tools, steel grades U12 and U12A with a hardness of 54-60 HRC are used. Depending on the shape of the cross-section, the hooks are:

• Flat (stubose and sharp-nosed);
• Square;
• Trihedral;
• Round and semicircular;
• Oval;
• In the form of a diamond;
• Slotted and hacksaw.

A home master does not have to have all kinds Files. It is enough to have three basic ones - flat, triangular and round. It is also desirable to have a set of files and several rasps. With these tools, you can easily cope with any task related to grinding metal.