Cutting tool crater wear measurement with white light interferometry

In this paper we propose the use of white light interferometry for measurement of wear craters on cutting tool inserts. It was briefly discussed interferometry principles and tool wear during dry metal cutting, after which a discussion of the application of interferometry to cutting tool wear measurement was described. A comparison of the profiler data with the cutting forces measured during the metal cutting process in orthogonal mode under different conditions was undertaken. Lastly, a comparison between the tool wear to the evolution of the friction coefficient is given. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.