This article is about the manufacturing waste. For the English band, see Swarf (band). For the archaic term for waste oil or grease, see Swarfega.
Swarf, also known as chips or by other process-specific names (such as turnings, filings, or shavings), are pieces of metal, wood, or plastic that are the debris or waste resulting from machining, woodworking, or similar subtractive (material-removing) manufacturing processes. Swarf can be small particles (such as the gritty swarf from grinding metal or the sawdust from sawing or sanding wood); long, stringy tendrils (such as the springy chips from turning tough metals, or long shavings from whittling); slag-like waste (such as is produced within pipe during pipefitting work); or stone fragments and dust (as in masonry).[1]
Various examples of swarf, including a block of compressed swarf
Some of these terms are mass nouns (such as swarf and sawdust) and some of them are count nouns (such as chips, filings, or shavings).
Chips can be extremely sharp and they can cause serious injuries if not handled correctly. It is not uncommon for chips flying off the cutter to be ejected with great force and to fly several yards.
Due to its high surface area, swarf composed of some reactive metals can be highly flammable. Swarf may also spontaneously combust, especially if the swarf is coated with cutting oil.[2] To extinguish swarf fires, a special fire extinguisher is needed, designed for fighting Class D (metal) fires.
When machining without coolant, swarf is usually very hot and can easily burn the machine operator. Machinists typically wear long pants, eye protection and other personal protective equipment for this reason.
Some common engineering materials such as beryllium are hazardous when finely divided and appropriate measures should be taken to prevent exposure.
For ease of transport and handling, swarf may be compressed into bricks. Metal swarf can usually be recycled.
Referencesedit
Look up swarf in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
^"The universe is finished; the copestone is on, and the chips were carted off a million years ago." —Ishmael, in Moby-Dick, by Herman Melville.
^(PDF). UK P&I Club. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 January 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
February 15, 2024
swarf, this, article, about, manufacturing, waste, english, band, band, archaic, term, waste, grease, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, ch. This article is about the manufacturing waste For the English band see Swarf band For the archaic term for waste oil or grease see Swarfega This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Swarf news newspapers books scholar JSTOR July 2018 Learn how and when to remove this template message Swarf also known as chips or by other process specific names such as turnings filings or shavings are pieces of metal wood or plastic that are the debris or waste resulting from machining woodworking or similar subtractive material removing manufacturing processes Swarf can be small particles such as the gritty swarf from grinding metal or the sawdust from sawing or sanding wood long stringy tendrils such as the springy chips from turning tough metals or long shavings from whittling slag like waste such as is produced within pipe during pipefitting work or stone fragments and dust as in masonry 1 Various examples of swarf including a block of compressed swarfSome of these terms are mass nouns such as swarf and sawdust and some of them are count nouns such as chips filings or shavings Wood swarf is discussed at sawdust Metal swarf editMain article Metal swarf nbsp Metal grinding produces grinding swarf Chips can be extremely sharp and they can cause serious injuries if not handled correctly It is not uncommon for chips flying off the cutter to be ejected with great force and to fly several yards Due to its high surface area swarf composed of some reactive metals can be highly flammable Swarf may also spontaneously combust especially if the swarf is coated with cutting oil 2 To extinguish swarf fires a special fire extinguisher is needed designed for fighting Class D metal fires When machining without coolant swarf is usually very hot and can easily burn the machine operator Machinists typically wear long pants eye protection and other personal protective equipment for this reason Some common engineering materials such as beryllium are hazardous when finely divided and appropriate measures should be taken to prevent exposure For ease of transport and handling swarf may be compressed into bricks Metal swarf can usually be recycled References edit nbsp Look up swarf in Wiktionary the free dictionary The universe is finished the copestone is on and the chips were carted off a million years ago Ishmael in Moby Dick by Herman Melville Scrap Metal PDF UK P amp I Club Archived from the original PDF on 10 January 2019 Retrieved 10 January 2019 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Swarf amp oldid 1145252226, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
