Wear of Cutting Tools

The mechanism of tool wear depends on the cutting conditions, tool material, and workpiece material. This paper examines the wear behavior of High Speed Steel (H.S.S.) inserts (M-42) during continuous and intermittent machining. Cutting tests were performed on 4340 steel of 33–36 Rc. The cutting performance of H.S.S. (M-42) coated with TiC and cemented carbide (C-5) inserts coated with TiC and HfN was also evaluated. Scanning Electron microscopic (SEM) examinations of the coatings after maching were conducted. Flank and crater wear measurements were carried out. Improvement in tool life was evaluated for the various coatings.