Effects of laser shock processing on abrasion resistance of high speed steel cutting tools

Abstract

Purpose As a key basic component used in machining, high-speed steel (HSS) tools often prone to wear and failure during machining. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to adopt a suitable approach to improve the stability of the cutting force, the service life and the wear resistance. Design/methodology/approach Laser shock processing (LSP) was used to process the tool rake face and the tribological test was performed with ball-on-disk wear tester. Findings Experimental results show that cutting force of the LSP-treated tool is lower than untreated tool under the same cutting conditions. Wear rate of the tool nose treated by LSP decreases obviously and the tool life increases by 40 per cent. Originality/value HSS is often used in the manufacture of complex cutting tools. The main value of this article is to improve the tool surface wear resistance, thereby extending the service life of cutter. This paper is valuable not only in theory but also with reference value in engineering practice.