十五年來定位式金屬切削刀具有很大改變，陶瓷（以氧化鋁與氮化鈦爲基底），半陶瓷（碳化鈦與氮化鈦混合物）與超硬力具（鐵石與立方氮硼）的使用正爭劇增加之中，傳統碳化鎢刀具除使用微粒燒結外更利用塗會來改善性質，在塗層方法上除了化學塗層外更發展出物理塗層方法。此外各種不同的刀具形狀及斷削槽也不斷的被應用。
本文將從刀具材料發展的觀點做探討並討論對機器及工件所造成的改變。
There are significant changes in metalcutting indexable inserts for the past 15 years. The use of ceramics (both alumina and silicon nitride/sialon-based), cermets base on titanium carbide/titanium nitride, and superhard tools using diamond or cubic boron nitride is increased. The traditional tungsten carbide tools are being further optimized, with greater use of very fine-grained grades proceeding in parallel with a continual replacement of uncoated by coated carbides. Chemical vapor deposited (CVD) coatings have been further developed, and carbide grades using physical vapor deposited (PVD) coating have been introduced. The range of insert geometries and chipbreaker styles has also broadened.
This paper reviews these trends in terms of materials science developments of the insert materials, and also in the light of changes in machine tools and the nature of the workpieces being machined.
