Assessment of Metal Cutting Tools using Cost Performance Ratio and Tool Life Analyses

Critical raw materials (CRM) are extensively used in tools for metal cutting, such as in cemented carbide tools (cobalt and tungsten), because they provide desired characteristics of high fracture toughness and wear resistance. Both academia and industry are examining CRM-free material alternatives, such as tools based on polycrystalline diamond (PCD) or ceramic materials. These materials are generally more cost intensive as compared to cemented carbide but could also provide higher efficiency in terms of material removal rate. Material removal rate and tool costs have a substantial influence on the final part cost. When deciding on tool material, the manufacturing industry is either looking for the most cost effective alternative or the alternative providing the highest productivity output. The purpose of this paper is to provide industry with decision support for selection of tool and cutting data that provide the financial most sound production set-up. This work aims to present a novel methodology combining the Colding tool life model and a previously presented model for cost performance ratio. A previous publication provided a method to assess technological solutions and investments based on final part cost. The developed methodology in this article combines cutting performance and production performance to allow a comprehensive cost assessment for a production process. The assessment includes cutting data, tool life and costs of tooling, quality rejections, process availability, equipment investment, personnel and facility. A case study based on experimental data is presented to verify the proposed methodology.