Methods and Test Benches for Cutting Tools Testing—A Review

Abstract

Mechanical mining is a widely used method of separating materials from the face to obtain a useful mineral (e.g., coal, metal ores, salts, and diamonds), to make underground workings (e.g., mine galleries, tunnels, and underground garages), level roads, shape slopes, or to dig ditches. Mechanical mining is applied in the mining branch, tunnelling, road, and construction industries. Depending on the mechanical properties of the rocks, most frequently described by uniaxial compression strength, various machines and tools are used. The methods of mining high-strength abrasive rocks that have been used and developed in recent years are particularly applicable to the mining of copper, gold, tungsten, platinum ores, diamond deposits, and tunnelling. In addition to rock strength, the effectiveness of the mining process is affected by abrasiveness, which influences the rate of abrasive tool wear. Therefore, in various research and development centres, but also in production companies, tools are tested on unique stands. Tests are carried out to determine the cutting resistance and assess the wear rate. This article reviews methods and benches for testing mining tools, conical picks, and discs. Various solutions for testing single tools and cutting heads have been presented. The analysis conducted has revealed that despite the large number and great diversity of different test benches, there are no appropriate methods and stands for testing the wear rate of materials intended for mining tools.

Application of Rock Abrasiveness and Rock Abrasivity Test Methods—A Review

“…Rock mining is carried out by cutting (milling) with various mining tools. The most commonly used are conical picks that wear out in contact with the mined rock [58][59][60]. In the aspect of wear of mining tools, the CAI was used, among others, by Alber [61], Hamzaban et al [62], Zhang et al [63] and Teymen [64].…”

Abrasivity database of different genetic rocks based on CERCHAR Abrasivity Test

“…Mechanically, rock cutting refers to the process of applying force to the rock through the tool to break the rock. Featured by high excavation efficiency and safety, rock cutting is widely used in mining, tunnelling, and construction industries 1,2 . Nevertheless, tool wear is a significant issue in mechanical rock breaking, as it leads to the removal or displacement of cutter material during rock excavation 3 .…”