Finite Element Simulation of Orthogonal Cutting of H13-Hardened Steel to Evaluate the Influence of Coatings on Cutting Temperature

High cutting temperatures increase tool wear and reduce tool life. To achieve a longer tool life, coated carbide tools have been developed. In this study, the influence of tool coatings on the cutting temperature distribution during the orthogonal cutting of H13-hardened steel is investigated. Firstly, four coating materials, including TiC, TiN, Al2O3, and TiAlN, with the same coating thickness, are selected to evaluate the effects of coating materials on cutting temperature with finite element simulation. The maximum temperatures at the tool rake face and the temperatures at the coating–substrate interface are evaluated. It was found that the maximum temperatures at the tool rake face were the lowest and the highest when TiN and Al2O3 coating materials were applied, respectively. The TiAlN coating material had the best thermal barrier property. Then, the temperature distribution along the direction perpendicular to the tool rake face is investigated for TiAlN-coated tools with different coating thicknesses ranging from 3 μm to 10 μm. It is shown that the temperature gradient increases with the coating thickness. The coating thickness should be kept below 5 μm. Finally, cutting experiments validate the availability of the finite element model.