GEOMETRY OF SINGLE POINT TURNING TOOLS

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
D Introduction to Features of single point cutting tool.
D Concept of rake and clearance angle and its importance
D System of description of Tool geometry ASA, ORS and NSA systems
D Interrelation between different Systems of Nomenclature.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Tool geometry is basically referred to some specific angles or slope of the salient faces
and edges of the tools at their cutting point.
Both material and geometry of the cutting tools play very important roles on their
performances in achieving effectiveness, efficiency and overall economy of machining.
Cutting tools may be classified according to the number of major cutting edges (points)
involved as follows:
D Single point cutting tools : Examples: turning tools, shaping, planning and
slotting tools and boring tools
D Double or Two point cutting tools : Example : drills
D Multipoint (more than two) cutting tool: Example: Milling cutters, Broaching tools,
Hobs, Gear shaping cutters etc.
The geometry of a single point cutting tool is determined by the following features:
Face or rake surface, which is the surface of cutting tool along which the chips move
Flank surface that face the workpiece. There are two flank surfaces, namely principal
and auxiliary flank surfaces.
Cutting edge that remove material from the workpiece. There are two cutting edges.
The principal cutting edge performs the function of major material removal and is
formed by the intersection line of rake face with the principal flank surface. The auxiliary
cutting edge, often called as end cutting edge, is formed by intersection of rake face
with the auxiliary flank surface.
Corner or cutting point, which is meeting point of the principal and auxiliary cutting
edges. Often a nose radius is provided to avoid a sharp corner
The above mentioned features are shown in the figure 2.

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Compiled by: Jagadeesha T, Assistant Professor, MED, National Institute of Technology, Calicut

Figure 2: Features of a single point tool.

CONCEPT OF RAKE AND CLEARANCE ANGLES OF CUTTING TOOLS.
Tool geometry is basically referred to some specific angles or slope of the salient faces
and edges of the tools at their cutting point. Rake angle and clearance angle are the
most significant for all the cutting tools. The rake angle and clearance angles are
illustrated with figures below
Rake angle (): Angle of inclination of rake surface from reference plane
Clearance angle (): Angle of inclination of clearance or flank surface from the finished
surface
The rake angle has the following function:
D It allows the chip to flow in convenient direction
D It reduces the cutting force required to shear the metal and consequently helps to
increase the tool life and reduce the power consumption. It provides keenness to
the cutting edge.
D It improves surface finish
Rake angle may be positive, or negative or even zero as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 2: Different types of rake angle on tool

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Compiled by: Jagadeesha T, Assistant Professor, MED, National Institute of Technology, Calicut

RAKE ANGLE- TYPES AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE.

Positive rake :
D Positive rake or increased rake angle reduces compression, the forces , and the
friction, yielding a thinner ,less deformed and cooler chip
D But increased rake angle reduces the strength of the tool section and heat
conduction capacity
D Some areas of cutting where positive rake may prove more effective are , when
cutting tough, alloyed materials that tend to work harden, such as certain
stainless steel, when cutting soft or gummy material or when low rigidity of
workpiece, tooling , machine tool, or fixture allows chatter to occur.
Negative rake:
D To provide greater strength at the cutting edge and better heat conductivity , zero
or negative rake angles employed on carbide, ceramic, polycrystalline diamond,
and poly crystalline cubic boron nitride cutting tools.
D These materials tend to be brittle but their ability to hold their superior hardness
at high temperature results in their selection for high speed and continuous
machining operation.
D Negative rakes increases tool forces but it is necessary to provide added support
to the cutting edge. This is particularly important in making intermittent cuts and
in absorbing the impact during the initial engagement of the tool and work.
D Negative rakes are recommended on tool which does not possess good
toughness ( low transverse rupture strength)
D Negative rake causes high compression, tool forces and friction , resulting in
highly deformed , hot chip.
The rake angle for a tool depends on the following factors
1. Type of the material being cut: A harder material like cast iron may be machined
by smaller rake angle than that required by soft material like mild steel or
aluminum.
2. Type of tool material. Tool material like cemented carbide permits turning at high
speed. At high speeds rake angle has little influence on cutting pressure. Under
such condition the rake angle can minimum or even negative rake angle is
provided to increase the tool strength.
3. Depth of cut: In rough turning, high depth of cut is given to remove the maximum
amount of the material. This means that the tool has to withstand severe cutting
pressure. So the rake angle should be decreased to increase the lip angle that
provides the strength of the cutting edge.
4. Rigidity of tool holder and machine: an importantly supported tool on old or worn
out machine cannot take up high cutting pressure. So while machining under
above condition, the tool used should have larger rake angle.

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Compiled by: Jagadeesha T, Assistant Professor, MED, National Institute of Technology, Calicut

CUTTING TOOL ANGLE AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE.

Side cutting edge angle
The following are the advantages of increasing this angle,
D It increases tool life as, for the same depth of cut; the cutting force is distributed
on a wider surface
D It diminishes the chip thickness for the same amount of feed and permits greater
cutting speed.
D It dissipates heat quickly for having wider cutting edge.
The side cutting edge angle of the tool has practically no effect on the
value of cutting force or power consumed for a given depth of cut and
feed.
Large side cutting edge angles are lightly to cause the tool to chatter.
End cutting edge angle
The function of end cutting edge angle is to prevent the trailing front cutting edge of the
tool from rubbing against the work. A large end cutting edge angle unnecessarily
weakens the tool. It varies from 8 to 15 degrees.
IMPORTNANCE OF NOSE RADIUS.
The nose of a tool is slightly rounded in all turning tools
The function of nose radius is as follows:
Greater nose radius clears up the feed marks caused by the previous shearing
action and provides better surface finish.
All finish turning tool have greater nose radius than rough turning tools
It increases the strength of the cutting edge, tends to minimize the wear taking
place in a sharp pointed tool with consequent increase in tool life
Accumulation heat is less than that in a pointed tool which permits higher cutting
speeds.
TOOL POINT REFERENCE SYSTEM
To determine the orientation and inclination of the rake face and flank surfaces, a
coordinate system is essential, resulting in a set of planes with reference to which the
orientation or inclination can be determined. Two planes are of significance
D Tool reference plane or principal plane , which is perpendicular to the cutting
velocity vector
D Cutting plane, which is tangential to the cutting edge and contains the velocity
vector. The cutting plane is also perpendicular to the principal plane or the tool
reference plane.
There are three different types of coordinate system that are popular, when it comes to
tool nomenclature, they are:
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Compiled by: Jagadeesha T, Assistant Professor, MED, National Institute of Technology, Calicut

a) Machine Reference System ( MRS)

b) Orthogonal tool Reference System (ORS)
c) Oblique or Normal tool Reference System (NRS)
Machine Reference System MRS
This system is also called ASA system; ASA stands for American Standards
Association. Geometry of a cutting tool refers mainly to its several angles or slope of its
salient working surfaces and cutting edges. Those angles are expressed w.r.t. some
planes of reference. In Machine Reference System (ASA), the three planes of reference
and the coordinates are chosen based on the configuration and axes of the machine
tool concerned.
For example in a Lathe, XX is the spindle axis or workpiece axis, YY is the tool axis and
ZZ is the vertical axis. Figure 4 depicts the xyz coordinates of machine

Figure 4 : Planes and axes of reference in ASA system

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Compiled by: Jagadeesha T, Assistant Professor, MED, National Institute of Technology, Calicut

The planes of reference and the coordinates used in ASA system for tool geometry are :
R - X - Y and Xm Ym Zm

R = Reference plane; plane perpendicular to the velocity vector

X = Machine longitudinal plane; plane perpendicular to and taken in the direction of
R

assumed longitudinal feed

Y = Machine Transverse plane; plane perpendicular to both R and X [This plane is
taken in the direction of assumed cross feed]
The axes Xm, Ym and Zm are in the direction of longitudinal feed, cross feed and cutting
velocity (vector) respectively.

Figure 5. Tool angles in ASA system

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Compiled by: Jagadeesha T, Assistant Professor, MED, National Institute of Technology, Calicut

Rake angles: [Refer to Figure 5] in ASA system

The shape of the tool is normally specified in a special sequence, often referred to as
tool signature, as shown below:
D
D
D
D
D
D
D

Back rake angle

Side rake angle
Front or end clearance or relief angle
Side clearance angle or relief angle
End cutting edge angle
Side cutting edge angle
Nose radius

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Compiled by: Jagadeesha T, Assistant Professor, MED, National Institute of Technology, Calicut

Orthogonal Tool reference system ORS

Generally referred to as ORS (orthogonal rake system). This system is also known as
ISO (International standard organization) old.
The principal or tool reference plane R , which is the same as for the machine
reference plane
The cutting plane C , which contains the cutting edge, normal to R plane
The cutting plane o , which contains the cutting edge, normal to R plane
Figure 6 shows the orientation of the rake face and flank surfaces with respect to the
orthogonal too reference system and tool angles in symbolic form.

Figure 6: Planes and axes of reference in ORS

The main geometrical angles used to express tool geometry in Orthogonal Rake
System (ORS) and their definitions will be clear from Figure 7.0
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Compiled by: Jagadeesha T, Assistant Professor, MED, National Institute of Technology, Calicut

Figure 7.0 : Tool angles in ORS system.

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Compiled by: Jagadeesha T, Assistant Professor, MED, National Institute of Technology, Calicut

Figure 8.0 Auxiliary orthogonal clearance angle.

Normal Rake System NRS
This system is also known as oblique tool reference system or ISO new.
ASA system has limited advantage and use like convenience of inspection. But ORS is
advantageously used for analysis and research in machining and tool performance. But
ORS does not reveal the true picture of the tool geometry when the cutting edges are
inclined from the reference plane, i.e., 0. Besides, sharpening or resharpening, if
necessary, of the tool by grinding in ORS requires some additional calculations for
correction of angles.
These two limitations of ORS are overcome by using NRS for description and use of
tool geometry. The basic difference between ORS and NRS is the fact that in ORS, rake
and clearance angles are visualized in the orthogonal plane, o, whereas in NRS those
angles are visualized in another plane called Normal plane, N. The orthogonal plane,
o is simply normal to R and C irrespective of the inclination of the cutting edges, i.e.,
, but N (and N for auxiliary cutting edge) is always normal to the cutting edge. The
differences between ORS and NRS have been depicted in Figure 9.0
The planes of reference and the coordinates used in NRS are:
- - and X Y Z
RN

Where,
= normal reference plane
RN

= Normal plane: plane normal to the cutting edge

N

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Compiled by: Jagadeesha T, Assistant Professor, MED, National Institute of Technology, Calicut

X =X
n

Y = cutting edge
n

Z = normal to X and Y
n

It is to be noted that when = 0, NRS and ORS become same, i.e. , Y Y and
o

Z Z .
n

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Compiled by: Jagadeesha T, Assistant Professor, MED, National Institute of Technology, Calicut

Interrelation ship between different systems of nomenclature

Interrelations can be established between MRS or ASA and ORS or between ORS and
NRS systems and vice versa.
Rake face angles
Case 1
Given bake rake angle and Side rake angle in ASA
Find inclination angle and Orthogonal rake in ORS system
Assume either or s is known

Note

Case 2
Given inclination angle and orthogonal rake in ORS
Find back rake and side rake angle of ASA system
Assume s is known

Case 3
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Compiled by: Jagadeesha T, Assistant Professor, MED, National Institute of Technology, Calicut

Given inclination angle and orthogonal rake in ORS

Find normal rake angle in NRS system

Case 4
Given, inclination angle and orthogonal clearance in ORS
Find normal clearance angle.

Clearance angles
Given orthogonal clearance and inclination angle of ORS
Find front clearance and side clearance angle of ARS system
Assume is known.

Alternatively we can write

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Compiled by: Jagadeesha T, Assistant Professor, MED, National Institute of Technology, Calicut