Micro-textured cutting tools were widely reported due to the improved cutting performance, for example, the reduction of cutting forces. However, the cutting performance is significantly dependent on the parameters of the micro-textures. In this work, some polycrystalline cubic boron nitride tools with designed circular micro-textures were designed and manufactured by laser processing technology, and used to machine powder metallurgy materials. The effect of micro-texture parameters (diameter, depth and density) on the cutting forces ( FX, FY, FZ and Fr) was studied by an orthogonal test, the effect of cutting velocity on the cutting force was also studied. The results have shown that the pit diameter and depth have more significant effect on the cutting forces than the cutting velocity and pit density. As compared with the non-textured tools, the textured tools can effectively reduce the cutting forces and the optimal cutting forces were achieved at parameters as 230 μm for diameter, 90 μm for depth, 20% for density and 110 m/min for cutting velocity. The present findings are of significance for the design of polycrystalline cubic boron nitride cutting tools and the processing of powder metallurgy materials.

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