LAUSR

Abstract In this paper, the wear performance and mechanisms of PCBN tool in dry hard turning of AISI D2 hardened steel at various hardness levels (40–60 ± 1 HRC) were investigated at a fixed 250-m/min cutting speed, 0.10-mm/r feed, and 0.15-mm depth of cut. The results showed that the workpiece hardness has a great influence on the flank wear. The principle wear mechanisms in the flank wear of the PCBN tools are the abrasive wear in the cases of 40–55 ± 1 HRC, and abrasive and delamination wear in a case of 60 ± 1 HRC due to an abrupt increase of friction at tool-workpiece interfaces, while the crater is the principle wear in the rake face of PCBN tools.