Prediction of cutting temperature distributions on rake face of coated cutting tools

Coated cutting tools have been widely employed in metal cutting operations owing to its excellent abrasion resistance and heat transfer performances. Rake face temperature is the primary factor that determines the temperature distribution in the cutting tool body. Based on the heat source theory, a new prediction model is proposed in this paper to forecast the temperature distribution on the rake face. Infrared image is used to develop a new turning experimental apparatus to measure the rake face temperature of coated tool during the cutting process. Rake face temperature measurement results are used to verify the proposed model prediction results of temperature distribution. Several cutting tests are carried out with monolayer coated tools in the machining of H13 hardened steel. The rake face temperature in monolayer coated tool for machining H13 shows an increase trend as the cutting speed increases. The influence parameters including thermo-physical properties and tool/workpiece frictional coefficient of coating material on temperature distribution in coated tools are discussed and illustrated. The research results presented in this paper can help to access the potential of coated tools used in the hardened steel machining.