Studies of disc cutter shape for partial-face rock cutting machines

One of the important factors affecting rock cutting efficiency is the cutter shape. To identify and quantify the effect of cutter shape at various cutting conditions, a series of tests was run in sandstone at the rock cutting laboratory of the Cooperative Research Centre for Mining Technology and Equipment (CMTE). The cutters were smaller than would be found on-site, having diameters of 100 mml Four cutter shapes were trialled: flat, wedge, done and bevel. All tests were conducted in single-pass chipping non-tracking mode as opposed to groove deepening, which has characterised such rests so far. The results demonstrate that the performance of the bevel cutter is better than that of the others.