Study on cutting performance of SiCp/Al composite using textured tool

Abstract In the micro cutting process of SiCp/Al composites, the tool wear is serious due to the existence of reinforcement phase in the material, which greatly affects the machined surface integrity. In order to reduce the friction and adhesion at the tool-chip interface, fabricating micro texture on the tool surface could be a feasible solution. This work focuses on the study of the cutting performance of the textured cutting tools through micro cutting of SiCp/Al composites. The experiments were carried out using NTK-KM1CCGW060202H uncoated cemented carbide tools with micro-hole textures developed by pulsed fiber laser. The results indicate that the micro-textured tools can reduce the wear, sticking and the contact length between the tool-chip. Also, the surface quality can be improved. It is observed from the chip’s surface that the micro-textured tool can produce secondary cutting when machining SiCp/Al composite materials, the smaller the texture spacing, the more obvious the secondary cutting phenomenon. Furthermore, the cutting forces can be reduced using the micro-textured tool in most cases. However, when the texture spacing is too small the cutting force does not decrease. Finally, the surface roughness and surface residual stress of the machined workpiece are investigated. Textured tools have better results.