Current Process

Zirconium tubes are cut one at a time using carbide tools on a lathe. A lathe cutoff leaves burrs requiring deburring to achieve a smooth surface finish. Carbide tooling wears quickly when cutting zirconium and is expensive.

Challenges

Deliver a cost-effective process to cut zirconium tubes which reduces the number of steps in production. Zirconium is highly flammable, and a dull carbide tool can cause the material to overheat and catch fire. Zirconium fires are dangerous and very hard to extinguish.