Comparative Assessment of Tool Wear and Surface Topography After Superfinish Turning of Inconel 718 with Carbide and Ceramic Inserts

Cutting inserts made of ceramic materials are used in rough machining processes of Inconel 718. This article compares sintered carbide S205 inserts with 6160 ceramic inserts after finish turning of Inconel 718 with a hardness of 45 HRC. The evaluation focused on insert wear, surface topography and changes in cutting edge radius. The results show differences in the wear of S205 and 6160 inserts. S205 inserts characterize the formation of buildup on the rake face, while 6160 inserts tend to form buildup on the flank face. Furthermore, ceramic 6160 inserts are more prone to notch wear. Surface topography analysis revealed the formation of individual high peaks on surfaces machined with ceramic inserts. The Sa parameter for all cutting conditions studied did not exceed 0.45 µm.