A review of tool wear estimation using theoretical analysis and numerical simulation technologies

A thorough understanding of the material removal process in cutting is essential in selecting the tool material and in design, and also in assuring consistent dimensional accuracy and surface integrity of the finished product. Tool wear in cutting process is produced by the contact and relative sliding between the cutting tool and the workpiece, and between the cutting tool and the chip under the extreme conditions of cutting area. This paper presents the information on development of study on theoretical analysis and numerical simulation of tool wear in all over the world. Hidden Markov models (HMMs) were introduced to estimate tool wear in cutting, which are strongly influenced by the cutting temperature, contact stresses, and relative strains at the interface. Finite element method (FEM) is a powerful tool to predict cutting process variables, which are difficult to obtain with experimental methods. The objective of this work focuses on the new development in predicting the tool wear evolution and tool life in orthogonal cutting with FEM simulations. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.