Effect of tribochemical polishing of polycrystalline diamond tool edges on the cutting performance of titanium alloys

Polycrystalline diamond (PCD) tools have gained attention for machining nonferrous metals, nonmetals, and composite materials. However, chipping at the cutting edge and unevenness on the flank face introduced during manufacturing result in reduced surface accuracy and shortened tool life. To address these issues, this study proposes a novel tribochemical polishing technique for the flank face of PCD tools that involves heating the polishing disk. This technique effectively reduces chipping and cracking at the cutting edge, which are difficult to prevent using conventional methods, and enables sharpening of the cutting edge and precise adjustment of its shape. Furthermore, the cutting performance of tribochemically polished PCD tools was evaluated by machining a titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4 V). The results demonstrated improved surface accuracy, reduced adhesion, and extended tool life compared to commercial tools. This study is expected to contribute to the development of high-precision and stable machining of difficult-to-cut titanium alloys through advancements in PCD tool technology.