Advances in Hard-to-Cut Materials: Manufacturing Properties Process Mechanics and Evaluation of Surface Integrity

The rapid growth of modern industry has resulted in a growing demand for construction materials with excellent operational properties. However the improved features of these materials can significantly hinder their manufacture and therefore they can be defined as hard-to-cut. The main difficulties during the manufacturing/processing of hard-to-cut materials are attributed especially to their high hardness and abrasion resistance high strength at room or elevated temperatures increased thermal conductivity as well as resistance to oxidation and corrosion. Nowadays the group of hard-to-cut materials is extensive and still expanding which is attributed to the development of a novel manufacturing techniques (e.g. additive technologies). Currently the group of hard-to-cut materials mainly includes hardened and stainless steels titanium cobalt and nickel alloys composites ceramics as well as the hard clads fabricated by additive techniques. This Special Issue Advances in Hard-to-Cut Materials: Manufacturing Properties Process Mechanics and Evaluation of Surface Integrity provides the collection of research papers regarding the various problems correlated with hard-to-cut materials. The analysis of these studies reveals the primary directions regarding the developments in manufacturing methods characterization and optimization of hard-to-cut materials.