Cutting Performance of TiN/TiSiN Coated Tool during Turning of Ti6Al4V Titanium Alloy

Ti6Al4V titanium alloy, due to its low thermal conductivity and high chemical reactivity, leads to severe tool wear during the cutting process. TiN/TiSiN possesses excellent thermal properties and hardness, which makes it a promising material for protecting tools. To investigate the cutting performance of TiN/TiSiN coated tools, a turning model was established by the finite element method and validated. Comprehensive analyses of cutting force, tool temperature, and tool stress were conducted, comparing the TiN/TiSiN coated tools’ data with uncoated tools, TiN coated tools, and TiSiN coated tools. The results showed that TiN/TiSiN coating did not change the cutting force significantly, the application of TiN/TiSiN coating resulted in an increase of 1.8%. The temperature of TiN/TiSiN coated tool substrate is decreased by approximately 10.2–15.6% compared to other tools at the same cutting parameters. Regarding tool stress of TiN/TiSiN coated tools, there is a reduction of 22.1–32.4% compared to tools with alternative coating. The results show that the application of TiN/TiSiN coating can improve the turning performance for Ti6Al4V. The research of this paper provides guidance for further study of exploring the wear mechanisms of TiN/TiSiN coated tools and determining optimal machining parameters.