Laser material removal on cutting tools from different materials and its effect on wear behavior

The preparation of cutting edges offers great possibilities to improve the performance of cutting tools. In contrast to conventional abrasive preparation methods, such as grinding and brushing, laser machining is wear-free and exhibits highest flexibility regarding possible cutting tool geometries. Several studies have been performed on laser machining of carbide tools, enabling new possibilities in the generation of complicated geometrical features. Because wear of conventional preparation tools is critical for the preparation of super hard cutting materials, laser machining is an option especially in the preparation of materials such as PCD, cBN, cermets and ceramics. In recent research activities it has been shown that laser machining has a significant impact on phase transformation, residual stress state and Surface roughness of different cutting materials. In further investigations, the influence of the observed effects on tool wear could be derived. The presented work reviews the observed effects for laser machining of cBN, cermets and ceramic tools and shows similarities and material specific differences. Thus the potential of laser machining to improve the performance of different super hard cutting materials depends on the tool material and its interaction with the laser removal process. Especially induced compressive residual stress by laser preparation of cBN as a result of a phase transformation leads to an increased tool lifetime.