State of the art in hard turning

Hard turning is gaining grounds for machining hardened steels as it has several benefits over grinding. There are several issues, which should be understood and dealt with, to achieve successful performance of the process. Researchers have worked upon several aspects related to hard turning. The present work is an effort to review some of these works and to understand the key issues related to process performance. The review shows that the type of tool material, cutting edge geometry and cutting parameters affect the process efficiencies in terms of tool forces, surface integrities integrity, and white layer. Adequate machine rigidity is a must essential to minimize the process inaccuracies. Also moreover, for finish hard turning, where the depth of cut is less than the nose radius of the tool, the forces deviate from the conventional trends as the radial force component is the maximum and axial force component becomes minimum. The present work finally lists down certain areas that can be taken up for further research in hard turning.

► Review shows many areas and problems still to be addressed in hard turning.
► Effective investigations about force and friction conditions are still to be taken up.
► Very little work has been done to reduce tensile stresses on the machined surface.
► Different phases in hardened steel are cut simultaneously by the tool.
► So, forces should be modelled on microstructure level.