Surface Integrity of Laser Machined Carbide Cutting Tools within the PVD-Coating Process Chain

The final state of PVD-coated carbide cutting tools is a result of a series of manufacturing steps within a process chain. When lase machining is applied instead of conventional mechanical abrasive processes for the creation of tool micro geometries, an alteration of this process chain takes place. The consequences of laser machining on surface integrity of carbide tools is investigated, as well as the influence of the subsequent process steps up to an including PVD-coating on the laser machined surface.