Experimental investigation of cutting tool performance in high speed cutting of hardened X210 Cr12 cold-work tool steel (62 HRC)

This study explored the performance and wear behaviour of different cutting tools in end milling of X210 Cr12 cold-work tool steel hardened to 62 HRC. The purpose of the experiments reported in this paper is to investigate the wear of TiCN coated tungsten carbide, TiCN + TiAlN coated tungsten carbide, TiAlN coated cermet, mixed ceramic with Al2O3 + TiCN and cubic boron nitride (CBN) tools. Tool performance evaluation was based on the surface finish and tool flank wear. Tool flank wear was studied carefully through JSM 5600 (30 kW) scanning electron microscope. Surface roughness values were measured by Mitutoyo Metusurf 310 equipment. CBN tool exhibited the best cutting performance in terms of both flank wear and surface finish. The highest volume of metal removal was obtained with CBN tool. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.