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Different Types of Cutting Tools Materials and Their Properties

There are several types of cutting tool materials used for different applications based on their properties. The main types are carbon tool steel, high-speed steel, cemented carbide, ceramics, cubic boron nitride, and diamond. Each material is suited for different machining conditions based on factors like hardness, temperature resistance, and cutting speeds. For example, carbon tool steel is inexpensive but loses hardness at 250°C, while diamond is very hard but expensive. The optimal material depends on the workpiece material and desired machining operation.

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138 views

Different Types of Cutting Tools Materials and Their Properties

There are several types of cutting tool materials used for different applications based on their properties. The main types are carbon tool steel, high-speed steel, cemented carbide, ceramics, cubic boron nitride, and diamond. Each material is suited for different machining conditions based on factors like hardness, temperature resistance, and cutting speeds. For example, carbon tool steel is inexpensive but loses hardness at 250°C, while diamond is very hard but expensive. The optimal material depends on the workpiece material and desired machining operation.

Uploaded by

Jackson Sichinga
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Different Types of Cutting Tools Materials and Their Properties

There are many types of cutting process done in different conditions. In such conditions
along with the general requirements of the cutting tool, they need some unique properties.
To achieve these properties the cutting tools are made up of different materials. The material
chosen for a particular application depends on the material to be machined, type of
machining, quantity and quality of production.
According to the material used the tools are classified into

1. Carbon tool steel


2. High speed steel tool (HSS)
3. Cemented carbide
4. Ceramics tool
5. Cubic boron nitride Tool (CBN)
6. Diamond tool

Carbon tool steel

Carbon tool steel is one of the inexpensive metal cutting tools used for the low-speed
machining operation. These plain carbon steel cutting tools have the composition of 0.6-1.5%
carbon and very small amount of (less than 0.5 %) Mn, Si. Other metal like Cr, V are added
to change the hardness and grain size. High carbon steels are abrasion resistant and have the
ability to maintain sharp cutting edge. Carbon tool steels possess good machinability. This
material loses their hardness rapidly at a temperature about 250°C. Therefore, it cannot use
high-temperature application. It does not prefer in a modern machining operation.

Carbon steel tool is used in twist drills, milling tools, turning and forming tools, used for soft
material such as brass, aluminium magnesium, etc.

Temperature - 450°C
Hardness – up to HRC 65

High-speed steel (HSS)

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This is a high carbon steel with a significant amount of alloying element, such as tungsten,
molybdenum, chromium, etc. to improve hardenability, toughness and wear resistance. It
gives a higher metal removal rate. It loses its hardness at a moderate temperature about
650°C. Therefore, a coolant should be used to increase tool life. It can use many times by re-
sharpening. Some surface treatment is done on the HSS to improve its property.

Surface treatment used in the HSS


Super finishing - Reduce friction
Nitriding - Increase wear resistance
Chromium electroplating - Reduce friction
Oxidation - Reduce friction

High-speed steel tools are used in drills, milling cutters, single point lathe tools, broaches.

Cutting speed range - 30-50 m/min


Temperature - 650°C
Hardness – up to HRC 67

T-Type - Tungsten predominant type


M-Type - Molybdenum dominant type

Cemented carbide tool and cermet

Carbide drill
The cemented carbide cutting tool is produced by powder metallurgy technique. It consists of
tungsten, tantalum and titanium carbide with cobalt as a binder (when the binder is nickel or
molybdenum, then it is called cermet). Cemented carbide tools are extremely hard; they can
withstand very high-speed cutting operation. Carbide tool does not lose their hardness up to
1000° C. A high cobalt tool is used for a rough cut while low cobalt tool used for finishing
operations.

Cutting speed range - 60-200m/min

2
Temperature - 1000°C
Hardness – up to HRC 90

Ceramics

Most common ceramic materials are aluminium oxide and silicon nitride. Powder of ceramic
material Compacted in insert shape, then sintered at high temperature. Ceramic tools are
chemically inert and possess resistance to corrosion. They have high compressive strength.
They are stable up to temperature 1800°C. They are ten times faster than HSS. The friction
between the tool face and chip are very low and possess low heat conductivity, usually no
coolant is required. They provide the very excellent surface finish.

Cutting speed 300-600m/min


Temperature - 1200°C
Hardness – up to HRC 93

Cubic boron nitride (CBN)

It is the second hardest material after diamond. They are generally used in hand machines.
They offer high resistance to abrasion and use as an abrasive in grinding wheels. Sharp edges
are not recommended.

Speed 600-800m/min
Hardness - higher than HRC 95

Diamond

It is the hardest material known and it is also expensive. It possesses very high thermal
conductivity and melting point. Diamond offers excellent abrasion resistance, low friction
coefficient and low thermal expansion. It is used in machining very hard material such as
carbides, nitrides, glass, etc. Diamond tools give a good surface finish and dimensional
accuracy. They are not recommended for machining steel.

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Hot hardness of cutting tool material

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