What is required for effective material removal when using friction blades?

High cutting speeds are essential for effective material removal when using friction blades. The principle behind friction blades is that they rely on the heat generated by friction to cut through materials. At elevated speeds, the friction generates enough heat to soften or melt the material being cut, which allows for smoother and more efficient cutting.

Using high cutting speeds increases the effectiveness of the blades in achieving a clean cut and can significantly enhance productivity by reducing the time taken for the cutting process. Moreover, with sufficient speed, the kinetic energy of the blade contributes to the shear forces necessary to break the material apart, leading to better performance overall.

In contrast, slow feed rates would not facilitate effective material removal through friction, as the necessary heat might not be generated. Additionally, a wide gage or heavy weight is less relevant, as it may not necessarily contribute to the mechanism of cutting through friction effectively. These factors are more about the physical geometry of the tool rather than the operational speed that is critical to the process with friction blades.