Topographic Wear Monitoring of the Interface Tool/Workpiece in Milling AISI H13 Steel

The wear of TiCN coating carbide cutting tools (Sandvik® Grade 1010 and 4220) in different hard-milling machining conditions was monitored, analyzed, and discussed for AISI H13 steel. This material is commonly used in the forge industry in order to optimize the manufacturing process according to a qualimetry/cost compromise criterion. AISI H13 steel generally is used in modern production for high wear-resistant dies and molds. One of the most basic and primary geometric shapes in the manufacture of molds and die cavities is the geometry known as "inclined plane." Experimental investigations were carried out on a "mold model" design with the aim of analyzing and optimizing the principal manufacturing conditions. The tests are dependent on manufacturing factors, particularly their impactin a complex tribological process. Five clearly defined different surfaces of the hardened AISI H13 steel model mold, with appropriate geometries were studied; i) vertical downward; ii) curved downward; iii) horizontal; iv) curved upward; and v) vertical upward.The analysis of cutting tool wear during this process was based on computerized measurements of visually observable wear and power consumption. Morphological investigations of the surface topography for the cutting tool, as well as of the work-piece surfaces, were systematically carried out. Moreover, the interactions with simultaneously measured energy consumption during the process are also explicated in the present study and therefore tentative methods to optimize hard-milling machining are offered.