An analysis of the surface roughness of Ti-15Mo alloy machined with uncoated cemented tungsten carbide cutting inserts with different geometries

It is consolidated that the machining of titanium alloys poses obstacles due to their low machinability, which can cause surface problems in the machined components and compromise their performance in different applications. In order to generate better surface finishes, published works focus mainly on the correct choice of cutting conditions, regardless of the cutting tool, which has a considerable influence on surface roughness. Bearing this in mind, the present paper aims to determine the effect of the geometry (clearance angle and corner radius) of uncoated cemented tungsten carbide cutting inserts on several roughness parameters obtained after turning Ti-15Mo alloy. According to the obtained results, a relevant geometric contribution of the corner radius, whose increase reduced the roughness values, became clear. Material deformation due to bigger corner radii or distinct clearance angles did not significantly influence the roughness parameters. A flat profile, with wide valleys and narrow peaks, was observed in all conditions.