The role of hard coatings in carbide milling tools

TLDR: In this article, the effect of hard coatings on the cutting edge of a fly-cutter was examined under a nominal range of cutting conditions and optical and electron microscopy showed both thermal fatigue-induced vertical cracks and lateral cracks parallel to the edge.

Abstract: The role of hard coatings in prolonging the life of cemented carbide tools is now well‐documented for continuous turning applications. In contrast, relatively few studies have elucidated the effect of such coatings in milling, where both mechanical and thermal cyclic loading impose special requirements on the tool cutting edge. This investigation describes the wear mechanisms observed in coated carbide milling tools which have been the object of recent commercial tool development. Coated carbide tools (by CVD and PVD) of varying cutting edge geometry, substrate, and coating composition were subjected to fly‐cutter milling tests under a nominal range of cutting conditions. Examination of the used cutting edges under optical and electron microscopy showed both thermal‐fatigue‐induced vertical cracks, perpendicular to the cutting edge, as well as lateral cracks parallel to the edge which result from mechanical cyclic stresses. The wear patterns and the sequential progression of these cracks were characterize...