APPLICATION OF ADVANCED SURFACE ENGINEERING TREATMENTS TO MULTIPOINT CUTTING EDGES

Hard coatings to arrest or slow down wear, improve productivity and pr oduce quality products are now well established in single-point tools (HSS and carbide). However, the same is not true for multi-point cutti ng tools. The paper examines the progress made in low-value high-volum e (bandsaws, holesaws) and high-value low-volume (circular saws, broac h tools) products. Whilst some successes are reported there are some c ontinuing disappointments in tool life improvement and performance owi ng to the lack of systems approach. The author gives examples of produ cts and has identified parameters and processes which tool manufacture rs and coaters should jointly address to fully exploit the advantages of surface engineering technologies. The paper should prove useful and be of interest to material suppliers, tool manufacturers and surface coaters. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.