· KAIPU Engineering · glossary · 1 min read
undefined — Industry Glossary Entry
Definition of wedge angle in industrial cutting: the included angle between the front and back faces of a cutting edge, and how it balances edge sharpness against edge strength.
undefined is the included angle between the front face and the back face of a cutting edge. A small wedge angle means a sharp edge (low cutting force) but a weak edge (chips easily). A large wedge angle means a strong edge (no chipping) but a dull edge (high cutting force).
Typical wedge angle by application
- Paper, film slitting: 30–45° (sharp)
- Plastic slitting: 35–50°
- Tissue slitting: 25–35° (very sharp, paired with a wider hone)
- Plate shearing (≤ 6 mm): 60–75° (chamfer adds to back face)
- Stainless plate shearing: 70–85°
- Granulator rotor: 80–90° (very strong, with 0.20–0.30 mm chamfer)
Why it matters
On a slitter knife, the wedge angle is set by the front-face clearance and the back-face chamfer. A 22° clearance with a 5 µm hone gives ~ 30° wedge. A 15° clearance with a 0.10 mm chamfer gives ~ 75° wedge. The hone and the chamfer are the practical levers; the wedge angle is the result.
See also: Clearance angle, Rake angle.