PERFORMANCE OF MODIFIED UNCOATED TUNGSTEN CARBIDE INSERT

In high speed and high production machining, cemented carbide tools are widely used for its superior characteristics. These superior characteristics of cemented carbide are mainly governed by the grain size of the tungsten carbide particles and the cobalt content. The tool life and machining performance can be controlled by the composition of the cemented carbide tool alloy. In this research, machining performance of uncoated cemented carbide inserts are examined experimentally by changing the alloying compositions of the inserts. For this purpose a new insert of cemented carbide is fabricated by modifying the traditional existing compositions and grain size of tungsten carbide (WC), while the other process parameters are kept within the standard value. To compare the performance of the new insert with the existing traditional insert, machining on steel is performed under same cutting condition. Tool wear, surface finish, chip-tool inertface temperature and tool life are measured and compared with the existing tool. It is experimentally found that surface finish of machined part is improved whereas tool wear and temperature generation are reduced for the newly fabricated insert.