Development of High-Efficiency Cutting Tool Grade for Machining Heat-Resistant Alloy Parts

Abstract

Heat-resistant alloys are superior to stainless steel or heat-resistant steel in high-temperature strength and heat-resistance, and therefore are used in various industrial applications.

Typical heat-resistant alloys include nickel-based alloys such as Inconel and Waspaloy, which are used in aircraft engine turbine parts, shafts, cases and generation turbine parts.

While they are known for excellent high-temperature strength and heat resistance, they are also known as significantly difficult-to-process metals because hardening is more likely to occur and dispersing of the heat generated by cutting is slower as its thermal conductivity is smaller than that of carbon steel and the like that it can impact manufacturing cost.

Meanwhile, in order to improve fuel consumption rate (SPC: Specific Fuel Consumption), aircraft engine manufactures have been developing various products such as high-temperatures, and high-efficient combustors with low-environmental impact. Apparently, it is expected that the next-generation heat-resistant alloys will become even more difficult to process.

In this paper we will introduce some cutting tool materials for handling those alloys as well as new cutting materials we have developed to support machining them.