Increasing tool life by adjusting the milling cutting conditions according to PVD films’ properties

The coated tools cutting performance in up and down milling depends significantly on the PVD film material properties. The related wear mechanisms at various cutting speeds can be sufficiently explained considering the developed tool loads and the non-linear coating impact resistance versus temperature. Various PVD coated cemented carbide inserts were tested at different cutting conditions. The corresponding cutting loads and temperatures were determined by FEM simulations and the films’ impact resistance by impact tests. A correlation between the impact resistance and the cutting performance at corresponding temperatures contributed to the optimum adjustment of the cutting parameters to the film properties.