Tool flank wear analyses on AISI 440 C martensitic stainless steel by turning

Hard turning of materials is a process where dimensional accuracies, dimensional controls and surface roughness are easily obtained. Currently hard components are produced by hard machining in a very short time which also saves on cost. Martensitic stainless steel is difficult to cut due to the presence of high amount of chromium and makes the material harder. AISI 440 C hardness is maintained through induction hardening process. The cutting tool used for this material is normally a super hard cutting tool like CBN and PCBN tools and less tool wear is possible. Minimising tool wear is the main criteria of the machining process. The influence of flank wear was due to abrasive action of hard martensitic carbides of the work material at low cutting speed, and low feed rate. The crater wear also formed and was due to abrasive action of the saw tooth chips and also by heat at cutting zone. Saw tooth chips were produced by while machining martensitic stainless steel and the rough surface of the chips responsible for occurrence of the crater wear.