Means to improve machinability of sintered steels

Abstract:
Powder metallurgy (PM) is a manufacturing method known to produce components to near net shape. Yet, sometimes machining operations are necessary to be carried out in order to achieve desired component shapes or/and tolerances.
Once the decision to carry out a machining operation of a PM steel component has been made the need to understand the characteristic of machinability will be inevitable. However, machinability of PM steel will not be influenced by the material properties alone but by all parameters concerning the machining operation, i.e. tool grade and geometry, cutting speed and machine stability.
This paper describes how machinability for some sintered PM steels can be improved by optimizing different parameters, e.g. tool material, additives or oil impregnation.