Tool wear analysis of ball nose end mill in the finish machining of free form surfaces

Abstract The present study investigates the cutting performance of ball nose end mills in high-speed dry-milling of a specific mold steel grade Super Plast ® 300 (SP300). The cutting performance was evaluated in terms of cutting length and tool wear. However, the milling tests were performed at finishing cutting conditions with a two fluted solid carbide ball nose end mill (diameter d is 16 mm, TiCN coating). Nevertheless, this investigation focuses mainly on the flank wear of ball nose end mill. It was found from the results that, the dominant wear mechanism was abrasive wear. Further, the flanks wear increases brutally at a specific cutting length or time. This is made when the coating layer vanished.