A review of turning of hard steels used in bearing and automotive applications

摘要

Hard turning is a recent technology that involves machining of hard steels using modern machine tools. Hard machining presents challenges in terms of selection of tool insert with improved tool life and high-precision machining. Turning of hardened steels using single-point cutting tool has got considerable interest among manufacturers of ball bearings, automotive, gear, and die industry. Hard turning in the automotive industry and bearing applications typically has a number of potential benefits over traditional form grinding including lower equipment costs, shorter setup time, and fewer process steps which in turn provides high flexibility and ability to cut complex geometries. Moreover, the hard turning process is usually carried out without coolant/lubricant and thus, the problem of storage, handling, and disposal of cutting fluid is eliminated, and at the same time, it probably favors the health of operators. This paper presents an overview of the past research hard turning using hard turning tools such as PCBN, cubic boron nitride, Ceramics, Carbide, etc. Major hard turning cutting materials and effect of hard turning process parameters on cutting forces, heat generation during cutting, surface finish and surface integrity, and tool wear have been discussed in light of the findings of the past research.