Finite Element Analysis of Turning Hardened AISI 42100 Bearing Steel With Various Cutting Inserts

Finite element simulations of high-speed orthogonal machining were performed to study the finish hard-turning process as a function of cutting speed, feed rate, cutter geometry, and workpiece hardness. The finish hard-turning process is defined as turning materials with hardness higher than 40 HRC (Hardness – Rockwell C), under appropriate high feed rate and low depth of cut conditions. In the simulations, properties representative of AISI 52100 bearing steel hardened to 45, 51 or 58 HRC were assumed for the workpiece. Cubic boron nitride (CBN), titanium aluminum nitride (TiAlN)-coated carbide cutters, and ceramics inserts are widely used as cutting tool material in such high-speed machining of hardened tool steels — due to high hardness, high abrasive wear resistance, and chemical stability at high temperature. The numerical simulations or experiments assumed physical, mechanical, and thermal properties representative of each of the three cutting materials. Cutting forces, tool and workpiece temperature, and residual stresses were determined in the numerical simulations. These resulting trends in forces, temperatures, and residual stress are consistent with experimental results reported in the literature.