What is a characteristic of serrated chips in metal cutting?

Serrated chips in metal cutting are characterized by a saw-tooth appearance. This is due to the way the cutting tool interacts with the material being machined. As the tool engages the workpiece, the friction and cutting forces can cause the material to deform, leading to a chip morphology that resembles a series of peaks and valleys. This serration gives the chips a distinctive jagged outline, which can affect the overall cutting process, including tool wear and surface finish of the machined part.

The saw-tooth structure of serrated chips can also provide insights into the cutting conditions and material properties. For example, serrated chips are often associated with certain materials that exhibit periodic variations in hardness or microstructure. Understanding the behavior of these chips helps engineers optimize machining parameters for efficiency and product quality.