Substrate pre-treatment of cemented carbides using abrasive flow machining and laser beam ablation

A significant driver in research activities of manufacturers and university institutions is the improvement of tool life for cutting tools. Recent publications have shown that the substrate pre-treatment prior to coating as well as defined rounding of cutting edges are key factors for cutting tool life. Different technologies are used for substrate pre-treatment, depending on the machining task, flexibility of the process and economic aspects. However regarding the surface quality two opposing requirements come into conflict. While high surface quality supports the chip removal during machining, the film adhesion between substrate and coating is greater on rough surfaces. This paper presents a comparison of the abrasive flow machining (AFM) and laser ablation technologies as pre-treatment processes for cemented carbides. With respect to the relevant processing parameters, the effects of a pre-treatment using AFM and laser ablation on roughness, surface topography, mechanical activation and chemical composition have been determined.