AN APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MACHINING WITH CRYOGENICALLY COOLED OXIDE-CONTAINING CERAMIC CUTTING TOOLS

摘要

A method and an apparatus for machining a workpiece include the use of a cryogenically cooled oxide-containing ceramic cutting tool. The method involves cryogenic cooling of the cutting tool during a cutting operation, which cooling results in enhanced wear resistance and fracture resistance of the cutting tool. A preferred embodiment involves jetting a cryogenic fluid directly at the cutting tool.