EXTENDING CARBIDE TOOL LIFETIME BY METAL-ION IMPLANTATION

The use of metal ion implantation to increase the lifetime and general performance of cutting tools has been explored. Extensive laboratory and field testing has shown that dual implantation, with titanium and nickel ions to a dose of 5 x 10(16) cm-2 at 70 kV acceleration voltage using a MEVVA(R) ion implantation system, can at least double the lif etime of carbide tool inserts in turning, grooving, drilling and threa ding applications on a variety of ferrous and non-ferrous work materia ls, and triples the lifetime of carbide end mills. In addition, it is possible to increase cutting speed and feed rates by as much as 50%, a nd still increase the tool lifetime. The effectiveness of ion implanta tion applies equally well to coated as well as uncoated tools, regardl ess of the coating material or deposition process. Following indicatio ns given in the literature, it is thought that the implantation proces s induces a dense dislocation network to a depth of many microns in th e tool surface which increases the wear resistance.