Cutting member with dual profile tip

The invention relates to a cutting member ( 7 ) includes a plate-shaped substrate ( 19 ) on which a tip ( 27 ) is provided which is bounded by a cutting edge ( 9 ). According to the invention, the tip includes an ultimate tip ( 31 ) and a basic tip ( 33 ), the ultimate tip extending from the cutting edge over a distance d 1 and having a profile which at least approximates the equation w=a 1 .dn1, and the basic tip connecting to the ultimate tip and having a profile which at least approximates the equation w=a.(d+R)n, where w is a profile thickness (in mum) and d is a distance (in mum) from the cutting edge ( 9 ), and n 1 is smaller than n, and a 1 =a.(d 1 +R)n/d 1 n1. In this manner, the profile of the ultimate tip is relatively robust and the profile of the basic tip is relatively slender, as a result of which the cutting member has a comparatively high resistance to wear, and the cutting forces of the cutting member are comparatively small. In one example, n 1 =n.d 1 /(R+d 1 ), resulting in the basic tip ( 33 ) connecting to the ultimate tip ( 31 ) without a kink, so that the cutting forces are further reduced. In another example, the ultimate tip and the basic tip comprise a coating ( 35 ) made from a material, for example diamond-like carbon, having a higher modulus of elasticity than the material from which the substrate ( 19 ) is made.