New method for testing quality of cemented carbide tools and a comparative study of different cemented carbide and high speed steel tools available in the local market.

Abstract

Determination of tool-quality is a very important factor in metal cutting process. Because production rate, production cost, surface finish etc. depend on it. At present in Bangladesh, there is no testing facilities for cemented carbide tools which are most widely used in production. In the present research work, a new quality control method has been developed with which quality of the cemented carbide tool bits can be determined avoiding the lengthy method of tool wear test. Quality of high speed steel tool can also be tested using this method but for work-material apart from steel. A comparative analysis of economic effectiveness of cemented carbide and high speed steel tools have been made and it has been established that the cost of turning a lead screw of a lathe machine with the high speed steel tool is, on the average, two and a half times greater than that of carbide tipped tools at the cutting speed of 80 m/min. It has been further established by experiments that at higher cutting speeds like 100,120,150 mm/min., it is not possible to 'use a high speed steel tool at all for the same purpose.