Optics and Lasers in Engineering 9 (1988) 13-22 Use of a CO2 Laser for Thermal Effect Simulation on Sintered Carbide Inserts O. De Pascale, C. Esposito Centro Laser, Via F. De Blasio, 1, 70123 Bari, Italy M. Lepore Dip. Fisica, Univ. Bari, Via Amendola, 173, 70123 Bari, Italy S. Lo Casto & G. Passannanti Dip. Tecnologia e Produzione Meccanica, Univ. Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, Italy (Received 24 August 1986; revised version received 12 May 1987; accepted 25 August 1987) ABSTRACT In order to study the thermal behaviour of sintered carbide inserts during interrupted cutting, thermal cycles have been carried out by using a C02 high-power laser with different conditions to simulate the actual cutting stress. It has been pointed out that the use of a laser is adequate for this purpose and that, even should the thermal fractures themselves not cause the collapse of the inserts, the thermal actions alone will be responsible for the growth of microfractures which weight heavily in predicting tool life. INTRODUCTION For several years research has been carried out on the life of edges of inserts of sintered carbides in interrupted cutting. From studies carried out it has been affirmed that the end of life of the inserts is caused by a mechanical phenomenon; the rapid variation of stress on the rake face of the insert both at the engagement and disengagement of the workpiece, 1-4 as well as a phenomenon of thermal 13 Optics and Lasers in Engineering 0143-8166/88/$03-50 © 1988 Elsevier Applied Science Publishers Ltd, England. Printed in Northern Ireland