Exploring surface texturing strategies for improved high-pressure coolant performance in cutting processes

Abstract

In recent years, machining operations have been subject to increasingly stringent demands, such as machining difficult-to-cut materials, achieving high-speed and high-precision performance, and reducing environmental impact. Consequently, cutting tools are exposed to extreme thermal and mechanical loads during operations. High-pressure coolant (HPC) technology, which supplies coolant to the cutting zone at pressures of several tens of MPa, has garnered attention as a promising solution to these challenges. However, it has been reported that under certain conditions, HPC can yield minimal or even adverse effects, indicating that its full potential is not consistently realized. This study aims to maximize the effect of HPC by introducing micro groove-shaped surface textures on the cutting tool surface. Our findings reveal that under HPC conditions, the alignment between the coolant supply direction and the groove direction on the tool surface is crucial. When the groove direction is aligned with the coolant supply direction, HPC effectiveness is maximized, significantly reducing tool wear.