WSEAS Transactions on Applied and Theoretical Mechanics
Print ISSN: 1991-8747, E-ISSN: 2224-3429
Volume 21, 2026
Influence of Workpiece Inclination Angle on Tool Life and Surface Integrity in Ball-End Milling of Hardened CR12MoV Steel
Authors: ,
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Abstract: This study investigates how the workpiece inclination angle influences tool life and surface integrity during finish ball-end milling of hardened CR12MoV steel. Experiments were carried out at cutting speeds of 50-110 m/min and inclination angles of 10-75°, while feed per tooth and axial depth remained constant at 0.2 mm/tooth and 0.5 mm. Surface roughness Ra was monitored over the cutting time, and tool life was defined as the point at which the Ra-time curve reached a breakpoint. Increasing the inclination angle shifted the contact zone away from the tool tip, enlarged the effective cutting radius, improved chip formation, and reduced localized wear. As θy increased from 10° to 75°, tool life increased by approximately 60-70% under similar conditions. A second-order logarithmic model also predicted tool life with errors below 6%, offering practical guidance for finish machining of hardened die steels.
Keywords:
Hard milling, Ball-end milling, Hardened steel, Workpiece inclination angle, Surface integrity, Hardened CR12MoV steel, Tool life, Surface roughness
Pages: 110-119
DOI: 10.37394/232011.2026.21.11