Investigation of the machinability of AISI 316L stainless steel using coated and uncoated inserts

In this study, turning tests were performed under dry cutting conditions in order to investigate the effect of cutting tool coating and cutting parameters on cutting forces and surface roughness in machining of AISI 316L austenitic stainless steel. Two TiCN/Al2O3/TiN coated cemented carbide cutting tools, uncoated and TiC/TiCN/TiN coated cemented carbide cutting tools, having different toughness and hardness values were used in the tests. The tests were performed at five different cutting speeds (90 ? 120 ? 160 ? 200 - 240 m/min) and four feed rates (0.1 ? 0.25 ? 0.45 ? 0.60 mm/rev). The depth of cut was kept constant as 1.6 mm. As a result of the tests, it was observed that the cutting forces generally decreased with the increase of cutting speed. But it was seen that they partially increased at certain values. It was determined that the surface roughness deteriorated with the increase of feed rate. But it improved at lower feed rates, when the values of surface roughness are examined after machining tests. Removed material volume based on the wear tests were conducted by coated GC 235 grade cutting tools to determine the wear rate generated during machining.As a result of this test, plastic deformation on the tool was determined by SEM photographs, with the 0.6 mm/rev feed rate, 240 m/min, cutting speed, material volume of 20000 mm3 and feed distance of 100.69 mm.