Enhancing the machining performance by cutting tool surface modifications: a focused review

In machining, cutting tools suffer from severe surface wear, especially in the cutting of difficult-to-cut materials. A major cause of tool wear is the friction generated at the tool-work and tool-chip interfaces, which produces a great deal of frictional heat and abrasion. In order to extend tool life and improve the quality of machined components, a host of techniques have been applied to modify the rake and flank faces of cutting tools. These techniques aim at providing cutting tools with improved resistance to external loading, better tribological performance and/or better chemical stability. This article presents a review of the fundamentals behind which the friction and wear in machining are reduced by modifying the cutting tool surface with the commonly used techniques, such as surface coating, high energy beam treatment, and surface texturing. The effects of these surface modifications on improving the cutting performance are also analyzed. Future research directions are finally discussed.