Computational analysis of the machining of laser-hardened D2 tool steel

The contact between D2 tool steel and a single-point cutting tool creates significant opportunities to understand how dry machining of laser-hardened materials affects the economics of manufacturing, especially at the microscale. The present paper not only compares various computational approaches to the solution of shear plane and tool face temperatures during dry machining, but also discusses how the heat is generated and the accompanying forces react to large changes in the coefficient of friction. The paper accounts for the changes in material properties during machining and also shows how stresses and strains are affected by subtle and vulgar changes in the magnitude of the coefficient of friction.