Microwear of cutting tool in ultraprecision single-point diamond machining of polymers for optical and bioengineering application

Abstract

This paper is a continuation of a long duration research and it reports new results in the investigation of wear of natural monocrystalline diamond cutting tool in single-point precision and ultraprecision machining processes of vitreous thermoplastic amorphous polymeric materials for various applications, for example, for photon-optical and bioengineering applications. In these investigations, we have been using up-to-date methods and devices, including Atomic Force Microscopy, interferometers and optical profilers, 3D Topographic Analysis Systems, optical-polarisable microscope, etc. Wear criteria were chosen as the technological criterion of the diamond tool cutting wedge clearance face wear, criterion of temperature rise and criterion of cut surface deterioration. The compulsory replacement of cutting tools on reaching of appointed value of wear allows to provide high quality level of the machined surfaces of the articles from polymers and their long durability.