Wear study of high speed tapping in grey cast iron

Author(s)

Alexandre Araújo Bezerra

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Carlos.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC/SBD)
• Defense date: 2003-11-12

Examining board members

Reginaldo Teixeira Coelho; Anselmo Eduardo Diniz; Renato Goulart Jasinevicius; Rosalvo Tiago Ruffino; Leonardo Roberto da Silva

• Advisor: Reginaldo Teixeira Coelho

Abstract

The mechanisms and types of wear were studied in tools used in the tapping process performed with speeds commonly used in the industry and also with high cutting speed. It was evaluated the influence of cutting speed, type of tool coating and cooling/lubrication condition on the performance of the taps. The quality of the machined threads and the chip formation were also assessed. During the experiments, torque and current signals were measured, assessing the possibilities of using them as tool wear indicators. The tapping of through holes M8x1,25 was accomplished with cutting speeds of 30 or 60 m/min in gray cast iron GG25 in the conditions dry or with Minimal Quantity of Lubricant (MQL). Taps of plain High Speed Steel (HSS) and taps manufactured by powder metallurgy and coated (HSS-Co-PM, one with TiAIN and other with TiCN) were used. The main wear mechanisms observed were abrasion, adhesion and diffusion, while the principal type was the flank wear. The adhesion of workpiece material on the tools was the main decisive factor for the end of tool life. The tool coatings used were efficient in minimizing the adhesion. However, TiAIN was better in terms of tool life and TiCN in the reduction of torque and also led to a better visual quality on the machined threads. The MQL technique brought improvements to the machining in comparison to the dry cutting condition, mainly in the reduction of the torque in coated taps. The torque and current signals wereefficient in indicating the flank wear, only on coated taps. On the other hand, the torque signals can only be used as indicative of tapping cycle stages. (AU)