Surface Quality and Material Removal Rate in Fabricating Microtexture on Tungsten Carbide via Femtosecond Laser.

Tungsten carbide is currently the most widely used tool material for machining difficult-to-machine materials, such as titanium alloys and nickel-based super alloys. In order to improve the performance of tungsten carbide tools, surface microtexturing, a novel technology that can effectively reduce cutting forces and cutting temperatures and improve wear resistance, has been applied in metalworking processes. However, when fabricating the micro-textures such as micro-grooves or micro-holes on tool surfaces, the significant decrease in material removal rate is a major obstacle.