A study of the cutting tool wear mechanism on the minor flank

Abstract

It is well known that groove wear which is generated on the minor flank of a cutting tool is extremely harmful to surface finish in turning operations. The purposes of this study are to clarify the influences that the atmospheric gas and the physicochemical properties of the cutting tools and work materials have on groove wear, and also to propose a remedy to reduce the roughness on machined surfaces. The main findings of this research are as follows: (1) the atmospheric gas of a cutting environment has a considerable effect on the degree of groove wear formation; (2) groove wear is accelerated when easily oxidizable tool materials are used; (3) only slight groove wear develops when machining a work material which forms a stable oxide film on the tool surface; (4) thus the chemical reaction on the minor flank is the major cause of groove wear formation. From this, a practical remedy to reduce surface roughness caused by groove wear is proposed.