Prediction of coating's properties after micro-blasting and their effect on the tool's cutting performance

The conduct of micro-blasting on PVD films for improving the cutting performance of coated tools is often encountered in industry. In the present paper, the effect of micro-blasting procedures on the film mechanical properties, cutting edge geometry and thus on the tool life is introduced. A novel method for determining coating strength properties gradation after micro-blasting was developed. Ball cratering tests were carried out at the tool flank and rake, near the cutting edge, to detect potential coating thickness change after micro-blasting. Moreover the effect of micro-blasting conditions on the cutting edge geometry was examined by white light scanning and EDX microanalyses. The cutting performance of coated tools subjected to films' micro-blasting was investigated in milling. Finite element method (FEM) supported calculations of the developed temperatures and stresses during material removal contributed for explaining the obtained tool wear results and herewith for optimizing the micro-blasting process.