TOOL WEAR AND SURFACE FINISH INVESTIGATION OF HARD TURNING USING TOOL IMAGING

---------------------------------------------------------------------***The technology of metal cutting is a permanent evolution and is a field of much interest in terms of computer applications. Cutting tool wear detection is a fundamental aspect in the evolution of production techniques. As the quality of the cutting tool is directly related to the quality of the product, the level of tool wear should be kept under control during machining operations. The recognition of the general conditions of a cutting tool has a major role in the optimization of machining processes, since the accurate prediction of the exact moment for tool change results in many cases in an effective economy: a longer cutting tool life can be achieved, tolerances can be under control and rejection of pieces by deterioration of the tool conditions can be prevented. In metal cutting, tool wear on the tool–chip and tool–work piece interfaces (i.e. flank wear and crater wear) is strongly influenced by the cutting temperature, contact stresses, and relative sliding velocity at the interface. These process variables depend on tool and work piece materials, tool geometry and coatings, cutting conditions, and use of coolant for the given application.