Abstract
In order to investigate the application of ceramic tools in intermittent cutting, face milling test was conducted on 0.45% carbon steel with several ceramic, carbide and cermet tools. The wear patterns, the wear rates and the tool life were measured and also crater wear was observed precisely with an optical and an electron microscope. Obtained data were analysed to evaluate the wear characteristics of ceramic tools in comparison with those of carbide and cermet tools. Main results obtained are : 1. Ceramic tools are applicable for face milling without tool failure under the selected cutting conditions. 2. Crater wear rate of ceramic tools in face milling is much higher than those of another machining methods. Consequently, 50 μm of maximum crater wear depth is considered to be the suitable tool life criteria from the view point of tool failure. 3. Thermal cracks parallel and normal to the cutting edge are observed in the crater wear region of ceramic tools. Since these cracks in ceramic tools are not so deep as those of carbide and cermet tools, it is considered that they are not essential for the tool failure.
