This paper reviews the contributions that coatings make in enhancing the cutting performance of carbide tools and, in particular, their application in high-speed machining. It examines flank wear and cutting force process trends that are essential for monitoring tool degradation in automated machining factories. The findings of the investigation into cutting forces over the life cycle of different physical vapour deposition (PVD) tool coatings on micrograin carbide in the high-speed machining of tool steel are presented and related to the existing literature. Cutting tests were carried out at a very high spindle speed, 40000 r/min, and for a predetermined cutting time. Variants of the TiAlN coating, i.e. single- and double-layer and composite coating enhanced with WC/C, were evaluated against the uncoated tool and the TiCN, CrN, and TiN coatings. The paper reflects on the performance of advanced PVD coatings and also presents force trends and suggestions for process monitoring.
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