Knurling is a production process that allows a part of the surface of a metal piece to be engraved with a tool to obtain knurling, ensuring the piece has a better grip and an excellent aesthetic appearance.
Knurling is a mechanical process that requires more attention than other types of processing.
To properly design a knurled part, it is very important to pay attention to feasibility.
Often, in fact, we receive drawings with knurling that cannot be executed both for the geometry and for the material used.
Knurling process
Fields of knurling application
There are two different types of knurling:forming and chip removal.
The first can be used on all knurled profiles, the second has limitations due to the geometry of the product to be machined.
Knurling lathe
In this case, knurling should only be done on a lathe (rotating workpiece).
There are materials that are easier to knurling (from cold plastic deformation) such as aluminum, AISI 303,304 stainless steel, brass, steel up to 700 N/mm2.
The other types of metals are more suitable for removal (hardening and tempering steels, C40, 39NCD3, 42CrMo3 etc.).
Knurling profiles
For tracing knurling there are profiles defined by the standards which are difficult to execute. For example, the RGV 45° or 30° (UNI149 E) profile is feasible only by forming and the thicknesses of this process are conditioned by the width of the knurling wheel (e.g. 8 mm wide, you can make 8 mm wide bands on the piece).
Also in this case, the material to be worked must be a cold plastically deformable metal.
Knurling by removal
It is a process suitable for all materials.
It is used only on products that are knurled from the chamfer and can only be performed for RAA, RGE profiles.
Technical consultancy
Do you need advice and help to choose the solution that best suits your needs?
We'll think about it!
The entire Manigley Italia technical department, with speed and thanks to the decennial experience gained, is ready to assist you in the choice, application and machining with the tools distributed by us.
Current legislation
The regulations that regulate the knurling process are the Italian one (UNI 149) and the German one (DIN82).
Both indicate the profile to be made on the artefact and the pitch, which is the distance between one crest and another.
Any reference to the standard and the appropriate application can be consulted and explored in our Zahn® catalogue.
