The effect of cutting tool geometry has long been an issue in understanding mechanics of turning. Tool geometry has significant influence on chip formation, heat generation, tool wear, surface finish and surface integrity during turning. This article presents a survey on variation in tool geometry i.e. tool nose radius, rake angle, groove on the rake face, variable edge geometry, wiper geometry and curvilinear edge tools and their effect on tool wear, surface roughness and surface integrity of the machined surface. Further modeling and simulation approaches on tool geometry including one approach developed in a recent study, on variable micro-geometry tools, is discussed in brief.Keywords: Curvilinear edge, rake angle, grooved tools, nose radius, variable geometry. Stringent control on the quality of machined surface and sub-surface during turning is most important consideration a part from considering the tool life. In order to attain sufficiently high production rates at minimum cost, optimization of cutting tool geometry is necessary [1], [2]. The design of cutting edge geometry and its influence on machining performance have been a research topic in metal cutting for a long time. Edge preparation has a critical effect on the tool life. A tool with poor edge preparation may chip and fail quickly [3]. Users expect to have more and more productivity in their machining processes (high removal rate of work-material) and low wear of their cutting tools (long tool life). These demands require major improvements in the design of cutting tools: new substrates, new coatings, cutting tool geometry and materials etc. According to tool manufacturers, the manufacturing procedures of their cutting tools, especially the micro-geometry preparation (cutting edge etc.), have a major influence on their performance and on their reliability [4]. Edge preparation must be carefully selected for a given application because it affects the surface integrity of the machined workpiece (white layer, residual stresses etc.) [5]. Heat generated during hard turning is also affected by edge preparation due to change in work material flow around the cutting edge. For example, a chamfered face provides excessive negative angle to the cutting action and results in high heat generation. PCBN tools rapidly wear out during hard turning at high cutting speeds mainly due to attained temperatures [6].It is important to consider the tool-edge effect in order to better understand the chip formation mechanism and accurately predict machining performances, such as cutting forces, cutting temperatures, tool wear, surface finish and the machined surface integrity. The methods commonly employed include experimental, analytical, and numerical methods [7]. The tool geometry effects on turning performance parameters are mentioned in Figure1.It is demonstrated that the cutting tool edge geometry significantly influences many fundamental aspects such as cutting forces, chip formation, cutting temperature, tool wear, tool-life and characteristics like sur...