Posted on 02/05/2011

This recent publication describes work carried out to optimise coatings used to increase the lifetime of cutting tools used in high speed machining of aerospace alloys. These hard-to-cut alloys pose a challenge for tool coatings, as significant heat is generated by friction in the cutting zone, potentially compromising the performance of the coating. High temperature nanoindentation and high strain rate nano-impact were used to replicate the in-service conditions experienced by the coatings.

The data presented show excellent correlation with field trials of coated cutting tools in high speed machining.

This is an excellent paper for those working in the field, and presents a number of techniques including nano and micro-indentation, nano-impact and high temperature nanoindentation.

Reference:

Advanced nanomechanical testing for high speed machining of hard-to-cut aerospace alloys. Beake and Fox-Rabinovich, International Heat Treatment & Surface Engineering, Volume 5, Number 1, March 2011 , pp. 17-20(4)