Machining Characteristics of Cemented Carbides in Micro Cutting within SEM

This research describes that the cutting characteristics and tool wear behavior in the micro cutting of three kinds of wear resistant cemented carbides (WC-Co; V40, V50 and V60) using PCD (Poly Crystalline Diamond) and PCBN (Poly crystalline Cubic Boron Nitride) cutting tools by use of the SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) direct observation method. The purpose of this research is to present reasonable cutting conditions from the viewpoint of high efficient cutting refer to a precise finished surface and tool wear. Summary of the results is as follows: (1) The cutting forces tend to increase as the increase of the weight percentage of WC particles, and the thrust forces was larger than the principal forces in the cutting of WC-Co. These phenomena were different from the ordinary cutting such as cutting of steel or cast iron. (2) The cutting speed hardly influenced the thrust force, because of the frictional force between the cutting tool edge and small WC particles at low cutting speed region such as 2$\mu\textrm{m}$/s. It seemed that the thrust cutting force occurred by the contact between the flank face and work material near the cutting edge. (3) The wear mechanism for PCD tools is abrasion by hard WC particles of the work materials, which leads diamond grain to be detached from the bond. (4) From the SEM direct observation in cutting the WC-Co, it seems that WC particles are broken and come into contact with the tool edge directly. This causes tool wear, resulting in severe tool damage. (5) In the orthogonal micro cutting of WC-Co, the tool wear in the flank face was formed bigger than that in the rake face on orthogonal micro cutting. And the machining surface integrity on the side of the cutting tool with a negative rake angle was better than that with a positive one, as well as burr in the case of using the cutting tool with a negative rake angle was formed very little compared to the that with a positive one.