Tool coatings influence on the heat transfer in the tool during machining

Coatings influence on the thermal behaviour of a cutting tool was investigated. Heat transfer in a deposit-substrate system was analysed basing on a simple geometry example, and a steel turning experiment was realised in order to examine different coated inserts in real cutting conditions. The heat flux in the tool was estimated by the sequential function specification method and the non-integer identified model. The parameters of this model are identified from the transient evolutions of the temperature in the tool due to the heat flux on the cutting edge. The temperature in the tool is measured by a sensor embedded at a certain distance from the zone of thermal load application. For this purpose a special experimental device was developed. The results show that Al2O3 coating leads to a slight heat flux diminution in the tool whereas other used coatings do not influence its thermal behaviour. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.