In single-point tool machining, the resultant cutting force can be resolved into orthogonal components (tangential/power, transverse, and axial), each with distinct physical significance for power consumption, dimensional accuracy, and machine rigidity requirements. The Merchant Circle Diagram is a graphical construction, valid only for orthogonal cutting under the single-shear-plane theory, that represents the shear force, normal force, friction force, normal force at the tool-chip interface, and the measured cutting force components as chords of a single circle, enabling determination of unmeasured forces, apparent coefficient of friction, and dynamic shear strength from a small set of measured quantities. This belongs to the domain of manufacturing processes / mechanics of machining, specifically metal cutting mechanics, and extends free-body/vector force analysis to the machining process.
In single-point tool machining, the resultant cutting force can be resolved into orthogonal components (tangential/power, transverse, and axial), each with distinct physical significance for power co…