Microgrooving of ferrous metals by using cBN tools with laser-modified edges

Abstract

The fabrication of microstructures, such as microgrooves, on ferrous metal surfaces enables the control of various surface functions, such as improvement of hydrophobicity. However, conventional microgrooving methods using single-crystal diamond V-shaped tools have serious issues ranging from severe tool wear to low machining efficiency. Here, we propose a method for efficient fabrication of microgrooves on ferrous metals using laser-processed cBN tools. Using this method, a large number of microgrooves were successfully machined on pure iron surfaces with high efficiency. Moreover, by instantly terminating the cutting process, the cutting mechanism for this new tool was elucidated by direct observation of the cutting points.