Abstract
The cutting performance of some coated carbide tools in hardmilling of hardened steel is investigated. The cutting characteristics are mainly evaluated by tool wear and temperature at flank face for four types of coating films on two types of base materials. Cutting force and surface roughness are also examined. The temperature of cutting tool is measured using a two-color pyrometer with an optical fiber. The tool flank wear becomes large in the case of TiN and TiCN coated tools. The tool flank temperature increases with the increase of surface roughness of coated film, and reaches approximately 500°C for TiAlN/ AlCrN coated tool. On the other hand, the cutting forces do not change so much with surface roughness of coated film. In the case of P30-grade cemented carbide as base material, tool flank wear and flank temperature become large compared with K10- grade. The surface roughness of workpiece increases with the increase in tool flank temperature more than approximately 530°C.
