Application Features of the Cutting Tool, Hardened by Laser Pulsed Radiation

The performed studies of the application features of the cutting tool, hardened by laser pulsed radiation are based on the comprehensive cutting process analysis. In this approach, the modeling results of the cutting process with hardened tool allowing to define the area of the effective use of laser treatment (LT). In particular, the increase in the tool life only for the certain values of the cut depth at the fixed irradiation energy was observed. The causes of the observed phenomena were determined based on durometric researches and studies of the microstructure in the contact zone. The measurements were performed for the cutters (steel R18) after turning structural steel 12Kh2N4A under various cutting modes. It was found that the processes of tool material softening, observed at turning with high feed values, limits the scope of cutting conditions by hardened tool. It is shown that LT leads to increased tool life, operating at the cutting conditions when the growth of tension thermodynamic in the cutting zone does not result in the development of softening processes. It is established that the area cutting modes are restricted to the values of cut depth not exceeding 1.5 mm (V=42.5 m/min, s=0.2 mm/rev) for the investigated pair of tool-workpiece (R18-12Kh2N4A). Tool life increases by more than 4 times compared to the durability of the non-irradiated tool provided the optimal combination of laser processing and hardened tool cutting modes is achieved.