Dry machining of metal using an engraving cutter coated with a droplet-free ta-C film prepared via a T-shape filtered arc deposition

Tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C) films were prepared on cutters which are used for engraving. Engraving tests were performed on metal plates using non-coated and ta-C-coated cutters, under dry machining conditions, without oil. Generally, the metal plate is engraved using a cemented carbide (WC-Co) cutter, which uses oil for the cutting process, to fabricate a nameplate. The oil causes a high environmental load and complicates the machining process. Therefore, from an industrial viewpoint, there is a need for a dry machining process. The ta-C film is a hydrogen-free diamond-like carbon film with a high mechanical hardness. In this study, droplet-free ta-C films were prepared on WC-Co cutters using a T-shape filtered arc deposition method. The work materials used in the engraving tests were aluminum, copper, and brass. The results of the engraving tests demonstrated suppression of metal adhesion to the cutting edge, prevention of chipping of the cutting edge, and a decrease in cutting resistance during engraving when a ta-C film had been coated onto the cutting edge. In addition, burr and residue on engraved grooves were also suppressed by using a ta-C-coated cutter. The ta-C film coating offered a remarkable improvement in the engraving performance of a WC-Co cutter in the dry machining process.