Diamond tool wear properties in precision turning of oxygen-free copper disks

This paper deals with the relationship between tool wear properties and nitrogen impurities in diamond tools. It is very important to analyze nitrogen impurities at the tool edge, which is directly engaged in cutting. FT-IR microscopy, which is suitable for this analysis, is employed to analyze nitrogen impurities at the tool edge. The relationships between nitrogen impurities and tool life of synthetic diamond tools (Type Ib and Type IIa) for copper precision cutting are discussed. The results showed that nitrogen impurities significantly affect chipping and crater wear. Tools that contain larger amounts of nitrogen impurities show less chipping. On the other hand, crater wear volume corresponds to the quantity of nitrogen impurities in synthetic diamond tools and is affected by heat conduction.