Manufacturing Technology: Theory and Problems, Second Edition

CHAPTER 5

Other Important Materials

CUTTING TOOL MATERIALS

• As the name suggests, these materials are used for making cutting tools.
• A cutting tool material should have the following characteristics:
  1. The tool material should be harder than work material. Also its hardness should be maintained at increased temperatures.
  2. Its coefficient of friction should be low to reduce the frictional heat generation.
  3. Its thermal conductivity and specific heat should be high to conduct away the heat easily.
  4. It should be tough enough to resist shock or impact.
• Among the plain carbon steels, high carbon steel is the most suitable cutting tool material because of its increased carbon content. They are suitable for low cutting speeds.
• High speed steel (HSS) ...