The effect of wear resistance of carbide cutting tools on the technological process efficiency under severe cutting conditions

Abstract

The results of the effect of wear resistance of hard-alloy cutting tools (lathe cutters) treated by volumetric pulsed laser hardening (VPLH) and operating in severe cutting conditions (rough processing, peeling along the casting crust, etc.), on the technological process efficiency of parts processing (processing productivity, operation cost, tool cost) are presented in the study. Bulk pulsed laser hardening was carried out using a solid-state laser with an active element based on yttrium aluminum garnet with neodymium (Nd:YAG LIS-200) in a single, free-running mode. Samples from the VK8M hard alloy were investigated in this study. It is shown that increasing the abrasive wear resistance of carbide cutting tools due to laser hardening allows one to increase the value of the input parameters (cutting modes). In particular, increasing the feed and higher stability of the cutting process, which is expressed in an increase in the technical and economic parameters of processing, taking into account the gamma percentage firmness. The optimal feed rate when working with tools strengthened by volumetric pulsed laser processing increases by 1.2–1.3 times with an increase in processing productivity by 1.1–1.2 times, a decrease in the cost of an operation by 1.1–1.2 times, and reduction of instrumental costs by 1.15–1.25 times. The optimal modes of volumetric pulsed laser hardening were determined in the study: laser beam energy of 200 J (energy density 52 GJ/m2), laser pulse duration of 0.8 ms, and laser beam diameter of 2.0 mm. The optimal modes were then used for hardening cutting tools used in production tests. The results allow recommending the measures for optimization of cutting conditions during wear in severe cutting conditions. More specifically, to prescribe cutting conditions based on the optimal feed value, taking into account the dispersion of tool life (gamma-percentage resistance).