Temperature and Heat Partition Testing in the Cutting Zone for Turning AISI 321 Steel

This article shows selected results of experimental tests and the results of analytical and numerical modelling of the thermal characteristics of the cutting process. The tests were conducted for the case of the dry turning of austenitic steel AISI 321 with cutting tools with a flat rake face. The research aimed to determine the actual division of thermal fluxes in the zone of contact between the chip and the rake face. As a result of such work, a formula for a new heat partition coefficient and a formula for calculating the average contact temperature were developed. The results showed that the formulas developed can be a useful tool to estimate heat distribution in the cutting zone quickly.