THE EVALUATION OF TOOL WEAR IN THE MACHINING AISI 1050 STEEL HARDENED UP TO 53 HRC WITH COATED CARBIDE TOOL

In this study, the machining of AISI 1050 steel which is hardened up to 53 HRC is carried out with two carbide tool materials (three layer coated carbide of TP100 containing Ti (C, N)/Al2O3/TiN and (multi layer coated carbide of TP1000 containing Ti (C, N)/Al2O3/Ti (C, N)/TiN. Cutting tests are performed with constant depth of cut and feed rate under dry cutting conditions. The flank wear is examined using an optical microscope. Tool life curves and Taylor Tool Life Equation constants (n, C) are obtained via the flank wear data at various cutting speeds. The test results show that tools' performance is adversely affected by increasing cutting speed due to increased temperatures and stress generated at the cutting edges during machining. Flank wear and chipping/fracture of the tool edges are identified the major failure modes at the cutting conditions. TP1000 multilayer coated inserts give longer tool life than those of TP100 three layer coated inserts.