Mechanical Characteristics Generation in the Workpiece Subsurface Layers through Cutting

Abstract

The cutting process generates specific mechanical characteristics in the subsurface layers of the shaped parts. These characteristics have a decisive influence on the working properties and product durability of these parts. The orthogonal cutting process of structural heat-treated steel’s effect on the mechanical properties of the machined subsurface layers was evaluated by instrumented the nanoindentation method and sclerometry (scratch) method. As a result of this study, the relationship between the specific work in the tertiary cutting zone and the total deformation work during indenter penetration during the instrumented nanoindentation was established. The dependence of the indenter penetration depth during sclerometry of the machined subsurface layers of the workpiece was also studied. The orthogonal cutting process was carried out at different cutting speeds and tool rake angles. The cutting speed increase and the increase in the tool rake angle cause an increase in the indenter penetration work during the instrumented nanoindentation and an increase in the maximum indenter penetration depth during sclerometry. Simultaneously, the measured microhardness of the machined surfaces decreases with both an increase in cutting speed and an increase in the tool rake angle.