Different coatings effect on tool-life when milling hardened tool steels

Abstract: Abstract This thesis work is about finding out which coating should be used for which hardened tool steel and this was done by testing different coated cutting tools in different kinds of tool steels. The thesis work is performed at Uddeholms AB together with Uddeholms AB in the department of R&D at machinability cooperating with eifeler-Vacotec GmbH. The thesis work is going on from the end of January to the start of June and is a part of the education as mechanical engineer at Karlstad University and includes a total of 22,5 hp. The objective after finished thesis work is to be able to leave a recommendation to Uddeholms AB which coating is most suitable for each tool steel. To be able to leave that recommendation cutting tests are performed in four different hardened steel grades from Uddeholms AB combined with seven different coatings from eifeler-Vacotec GmbH. Steel grades tested are NIMAX®, DIEVAR®, VANADIS® 10 and ORVAR® SUPREME and coatings tested are CROSAL®, EXXTRAL® and SISTRAL® in different compounds. ORVAR® SUPREME gave such a long cutting tool-life that it was left for further investigation due to time limits that the thesis work had. In the other three tool steels it was possible to get a recommendation out of the four coatings tested in each tool steel. The coating that is recommended for each tool steel is only based on the cutting tool lasting the longest in each tool steel. That is not how a recommendation usually is formed, however for this thesis work there is no time for checking all the aspects that is vital for a proper recommendation. In order to get a proper recommendation, further more aspects that are checked are for example: Different cutting parameters (cutting speed, feed, etc.) Different geometries on the cutting tool Smoothness of the cutting tool and the coating In table 1 there is a compilation of which coating that was recommended for which tool steel. Table 1. This is a compilation of which coating that was recommended for which tool steel. NIMAX®               CROSAL® V1 DIEVAR®             SISTRAL® Ultrafine VANADIS® 10    SISTRAL® S