Hard Turning of Sintered Cemented Carbide Parts: A Shop Floor Experience

Abstract Machining hardened steel has been a recurring issue in the literature when tools with defined geometry cutting edges are used. It is well known the use of cemented carbides to produce cutting tools. It is also well known that this occurs before applying sintering process, to facilitate the production of special tools or specific kind of parts, which will be sintered later. What is not very known is the cutting of cemented carbides to produce special kind of parts used when high hardness, high compression resistance, high surface quality and tight tolerances are demanded. To meet such requirements is necessary to machine the pieces after sintering. Despite being a satisfactory alternative, the grinding process could not meet such requirements and, moreover, probably is more expensive. The purpose of this work is to develop an experience that, by gathering data from an industry shop floor that choose not to be identified, show the feasibility of turning sintered cemented carbide. The results showed that besides to be viable, turning process could machine workpieces with tight tolerances and excellent surface roughness.