Temperature evaluation of cutting tools during machining of hardened bearing steel using polycrystalline cubic boron nitride and ceramic cutting tools

In this work some of the most popular techniques used to evaluate the temperature in cutting tools during machining are briefly reviewed. The experimental work used two different techniques to assess the temperature generated during turning of hardened bearing steel using polycrystalline cubic boron nitride and ceramic cutting tools: the thermal radiation method and the implanted thermocouple method. Additionally, a finite volume analysis was conducted to estimate the temperature distribution in the cutting tool. The results suggested that the temperature increased with the cutting speed, feedrate, depth of cut, and tool wear, and an increase in the thermal conductivity of the tool material caused an elevation in the temperature of the cutting tool and a reduction in the temperature of the chip. Temperatures as high as 1550 degrees C were estimated in the cutting zone when finish turning using a high cubic boron nitride concentration cutting tool. (C) 1997 The Institute of Materials.