Basic study of ball end milling on hardened steel

This study deals with ball end milling with a (Al, Ti)N-coated tool on hard ened steel. The cutting forces in ball end milling with a helical flute wen obtained theoretically and experimentally not only for a Aat surface, but also for an inclined work surface. They are agreed with each other. The inf luence of the cutting conditions on tool life is discussed: it changed from 200 to 1100 m, depending on the cutting conditions. For the cutting condit ions of a large inclined angle of the R;work-piece surface and a large feed late, a lone tool life was obtained, The causes of reduced tool life chang ed, depending on the cutting conditions. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.