Performance of PVD-coated carbide tools when machining Ti-6Al-4V

This work investigates the performance of TiN and TiN/TiCN/TiN physical vapor deposition (PVD)-coated carbide tools in continuous turning of Ti-6Al-4V. Significant improvement in tool life was achieved when machining Ti-6Al-4V with both PVD-coated tools under the optimum cutting conditions. Notching at the depth of cut (DOG) was suppressed and flank wear, chipping and flaking of tool material on the rake face and/or at the nose of tools were the dominant failure modes. Tool life equations of the coated tools (when machining Ti-6Al-4V) were achieved by using a statistical regression analysis of the experimental data.