Abstract
This paper investigates the micro-cutting of cemented carbides using PCD (polycrystalline diamond) and PCBN (polycrystalline cubic boron nitride) cutting tools are performed with SEM direct observation method. The purpose of this study is to make clear the cutting mechanism of cemented carbides and the fracture of WC particles at the plastic deformation zone in orthogonal micro-cutting. And also to achieve systematic understanding, the effect of machining parameter on chip formation and machined surface was studied, including cutting speed, depth of cut and various tool rake angle. Summary of the results are shown below. (1) Three type of chip formation process have been proposed by the results of the direct observation in orthogonal micro-cutting of cemented carbide materials. (2) From the whole observation of chip formation, primary WC particles are crushed and/or fine grained in the shearing deformation zone. A part of them are observed to collide directly with a cutting edge of tool by following the micro-cutting. (3) Surface finish, surface morphology and surface integrity is good to obtain by cutting with PCD cutting tool compared with PCBN. (4) The machined surface has the best quality near the low cutting speed of 10${\mu}m$/sec with a cutting depth of 10 ${\mu}m$ using 0$^\circ$ rake angle and 3$^\circ$ flank angle in this condition, but it was found that excessively low speed, for example the extent of 1 ${\mu}m$/sec, is not good enough to select for various reason.