Study on the cutting of cemented carbide with a diamond-coated ball end mill

Effects of surface properties on tool life

Abstract

Cutting processes are effective for increasing the production efficiency and machining accuracy of cemented carbides, which are used for tools and molds. However, as commonly used diamond tools are expensive, it is necessary to develop a technology to extend tool life. In this study, we investigated the cutting conditions using a diamond-coated ball end mill to extend tool life, focusing on the surface properties of the machined surface. Cutting experiments on WC-15 mass% Co cemented carbide, consisting of WC particles with an average diameter≤1μm, showed that the tool life and machined surface properties were significantly different between up-milling and down-milling. Furthermore, cutting experiments combining up-milling and down-milling indicated that tool wear was accelerated when the surface created by up-milling was again subjected to up-milling.