Current Process
Conventional cutting processes use an abrasive chop saw, band saw, lathe cutoff, or shear cutting machine. Each method has its disadvantages. Tooling wears quickly and is expensive, driving up costs.

Challenges
The material used to manufacture aerospace fasteners is difficult to cut using conventional equipment. Cutting oil is expensive, messy, and creates a hazardous work area. Band saws leave a rough surface finish and inaccurate length tolerance, requiring secondary processing. Cutting bars individually on a lathe is a slow process limiting output per shift. The thickness of the lathe cutoff tools wastes expensive material, generating a high cost per cut. Carbide tooling wears quickly leaving a large burr. The burr gets worse as the tool wears. Shear cutting is very loud and leaves a deformed end. Conventional saws are noisy and have minimal safety features.