Acoustic emission true RMS signals used to indicate wear of a high speed ceramic insert

Tool wear measurements are a significant factor in the operation of an automation machine tool installation. This paper reports four methods for detection of tool wear: cutting force, chip direction, temperature rise and acoustic emission signal. The simple combined measurement method will be used to indicate ceramic tool wear or breakage. Ceramic inserts on a lathe single point cutting were used in the tests at high cutting speed. The true root-mean-square, RMS, of the acoustic emission signal measured at the base of the insert is shown to be the most sensitive to tool wear.