Temperature effects in ultrasonic cutting of natural materials

This paper investigates the relationship between ultrasonic cutting parameters and temperature around the cutting site for wood and bone, with the aim of reducing thermal damage in natural materials. Two ultrasonic cutting blades, tuned at two different frequencies but with identical cutting edge and surface profiles, are used in the experiments. Temperature is monitored close to the cutting site and the effects of applied load and blade tip vibration velocity are studied. Results indicate that ultrasonic cutting blade design can incorporate cutting parameters to reduce or eliminate thermal damage in these natural materials without using an additional blade cooling system