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TECHNOLOGY 35
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extracts present in the green wood. This, in turn, leads to the Table 1. Properties of the cemented tungsten carbide
inserts used in this study.
mechanical removal of the tungsten carbide grains. Chemical
Cutting tool wear is a pivotal parameter that exerts a Blades Avg. WC Compositions Mechanical Properties
Grain Size
significant influence on the economic viability and quality of Cemented (µm) WC Co Hardness KIC

the machining process. The Archard model can be used to Carbide (wt.%) (wt.%) (HV30) (MPam1/2)
quantify wear. WC(0.8 0.8 96 4 2085 8.36
µm)_4Co
However, it does not consider the mechanisms that
WC(0.4
accompany tool wear processes. The wear process is a µm)_4Co 0.4 96 4 2270 8.33
complex one, the resultant parameters of which are dependent WC(0.1
µm)_5Co 0.1 95 5 2192 9.27
on a number of factors.
These include the properties of the workpiece material,
the geometry of the tool, the cutting parameters, and the A three-layer particleboard was used for the durability tests.
technology employed in the manufacture of the tool. Table 2 summarises the basic properties of the machined

It is imperative to comprehend the wear mechanisms material. The particleboard sheets to be tested measured
of tools composed of WC-Co composites, obtained by 400 × 1000 mm.
the U-FAST method, when milling chipboard, a material
Table 2. Specifications of the cutting material.
that is extensively utilised in the furniture and wood-based
Bending Modulus of Sand
industries. Wood-Based Density Brinell Strength Elasticity Content
In the present study, a particleboard is processed using Board (kg/cm3) Hardness (%) (MPa) (%)
preset milling parameters with WC-Co carbide tools. The WC
Three-layer
grain sizes obtained using the innovative U-Fast sintering particleboard 649 2.6 8.7 2212 0.185
method vary.
The objective of this study is to characterise the wear
process of WC-Co cutting tools produced by the U-FAST The cutting edges of the cutting inserts were ground along
method during chipboard milling. The conclusions of this study all four sides, at an angle of 55 degrees. The milling tests
are focused on the optimisation of the machining process and were conducted using a CNC machining centre, specifically
the identification of opportunities to increase the efficiency the Busselatto Jet 100. The depth of cut was four mm. The
and cost-effectiveness of the technology. machining parameters utilised are outlined in Table 3.
The abrasion of the contact surface was measured at

Tool Materials and Methods of the Research
The tool materials included three types of WC-Co carbides,
obtained by U-FAST technology, with different WC grain sizes pxhere.com
and similar cobalt binder content.
The fundamental properties are outlined in Table 1.
Subsequent to sintering, the samples exhibited a diameter
of 20 mm and a thickness of 1.5 mm. Subsequently, blades

measuring 12 × 12 mm were shaped through the utilisation
of an electric spark saw.