Fabrication and cutting performance of cemented tungsten carbide micro-cutting tools

作者：Egashira Kai^*; Hosono Shigeyuki; Takemoto Sho; Masao Yusuke

来源：Precision Engineering-journal of the International Societies for Precision Engineering and Nanotechnology, 2011, 35(4): 547-553.

DOI：10.1016/j.precisioneng.2011.06.002

• Micro-cutting tool
• Microdrilling
• Micromilling
• Cemented tungsten carbide
• Tool life
• EDM
• Ultrasonic oscillation

We have developed cemented tungsten carbide (CTC) micro-cutting tools of 3 mu m diameter by electrical discharge machining (EDM). Microdrilling and micromilling were carried out using the developed tools, and their cutting performance was investigated. Cutting was performed in free-cutting brass plates. Ultrasonic oscillation was employed to lower the cutting resistance. As a result, holes and a slot of 3 mu m depth were successfully fabricated using tools made of CTC with 0.6 mu m grain size, indicating that successful cutting with 3 mu m-diameter tools was accomplished for the first time. Furthermore. CTC with 90 nm grain size was used as a tool material to improve the tool breakage resistance and tool form accuracy. The drilling performance of tools made of this ultrafine-grain-sized CTC was also investigated and found to exhibit a considerably improved average tool life.

• 出版日期2011-10