Tool wear mechanism in turning operation of microalloyed and quenched-tempered steels at different cutting conditions

Abstract

Tool life is an economic factor in machining. In this study, the machinability of microalloyed steel (30MnVS6) and quenched-tempered (QT) steel (AISI 5140), at different cutting condition, was investigated. An experimental investigation was conducted to determine the effects of cutting speed, workpiece material, feed rate and hardness on the flank wear and tool life of cutting tools in the hard turning operation. It was tried that for any test condition the hardness of the steels became almost identical by using appropriate heat treatment processes. Chip characteristics and chip/tool contact length were investigated. Crater wear of the tools was studied by using video microscope for any material in turning operation. Shear edges and flow layers of the chips were analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM).