Wear Mechanism and Cutting Performance of Conventional and High-Strength PM High-Speed Steels

Abstract One of the reasons for employing PM techniques in the manufacture of high-speed steels is to avoid the carbide clusters that limit the strength of ordinary high-speed steels. The combination of proper PM techniques, upgrading the steel to an optimum chemical composition, and correct heat treatment results in superior strength and toughness characteristics. The effects of a superior cutting edge strength on the tool wear and the tool performance of some broaches and milling tools are discussed. The life of broaches may be greatly improved while, in the case of milling tools, the machining rate may also be raised. Case studies from actual production are used as illustrations. For high-quality industrial tools, the best way of saving scarce and expensive alloy metals may not be to lower the alloy content of the tool, but to make sure that the tool is capable of machining more components. The crucial factor is the alloy expenditure per machined component. PM/0189