Abstract: A hard coating formed by a physical vapor deposition method, comprising metal elements comprising Si and at least one selected from the group consisting of transition metal elements of Groups 4a, 5a and 6a in the Periodic Table, Al and B, and at least one non-metal element selected from the group consisting of C, N and O, the hard coating having a columnar structure comprising a multi-layer structure composed of pluralities of layers with Si content differences, crystal lattice stripes being continuous in the interlayer boundary regions, and each layer having a thickness of 0.1-100 nm.

Abstract: A hard film formed by an arc-discharge ion-plating method, having a composition comprising metal components represented by AlxCr1-x-ySiy, wherein x and y are respectively atomic ratios meeting 0.45?x?0.75, 0?y?0.35, and 0.5?x+y<1, and non-metal components represented by N1-?-?-?B?C?O?, wherein ?,? and ? are respectively atomic ratios meeting 0???0.15, 0???0.35, and 0.003???0.25, the hard film having an NaCl-type crystal structure, with a half width of 2? at an X-ray diffraction peak corresponding to a (111) face or a (200) face being 0.5–2.0°, and the hard film containing oxygen more in grain boundaries than in crystal grains.

Abstract: An insert-exchangeable, rotary tool to which throwaway inserts are detachably attached, the insert comprising substantially square-shaped face and bottom surface and an outward curved flank on each side surface, and having a positive-type shape in which an outward curved edge line formed by the face and the flank serves as a cutting edge; each flank having in a substantially center portion a flat surface portion extending to the bottom surface without contacting with the cutting edge; a major cutting edge formed by the outward curved edge line circularly extending from its lowermost point toward a periphery of the tool when the insert is attached to the insert-exchangeable, rotary tool, such that it has a negative radial rake; and the lowermost point being positioned inward a center of the outward curved major cutting edge.

Abstract: In a radius end mill having a bottom edge formed on the end face thereof, a radius edge designed in a substantially quarter arc shape and formed at a corner portion thereof, and an outer peripheral edge formed spirally on the side surface thereof, the bottom edge and the radius edge being continuously connected to each other at a connecting point A while the radius edge is continuously connected to each other at a connecting point B, when a view taken along a plane that passes through the connecting points A and B and crosses a rake face of the radius edge is represented by an R cross-sectional view, the rake face of the radius edge is designed to have a convex curved line extending from the connecting point A to the connecting point B in the R cross-sectional view.

Abstract: A tool coated with a hard Ti/B layer having fine boron nitride particles dispersed therein, wherein the bonding energy of B and N is observed in an ESCA analysis of the hard coating layer; wherein peaks of c-BN and h-BN is detected in an Raman spectroscopy of the hard coating layer; wherein a ratio Q1/Q2 of a peak intensity Q1 of c-BN to a peak intensity Q2 of h-BN is 1.0 or more; wherein a half-value width Z of a (200) face in an X-ray diffraction of the hard coating layer is in a range of 0.3° to 0.6°; and wherein a ratio K/L of a face thickness K to a flank thickness L in the tool is 1.0 or more, whereby the hard coating layer has high hardness, high lubricating properties and excellent crater wear resistance, with chemical reactions with a work suppressed.

Abstract: A hard film formed by an arc-discharge ion-plating method, having a composition comprising metal components represented by Alx,Cr1-x-ySiy, wherein x and y are respectively atomic ratios meeting 0.45≦x≦0.75, 0≦y≦0.35, and 0.5≦x+y<1, and non-metal components represented by N1-&agr;-&bgr;-&ggr;B&agr;C&bgr;O&ggr;, wherein &agr;,&bgr; and &ggr; are respectively atomic ratios meeting 0 ≦&agr;≦0.15, 0≦&bgr;≦0.35, and 0.003≦&ggr;≦0.25, the hard film having an NaCl-type crystal structure, with a half width of 2&thgr; at an X-ray diffraction peak corresponding to a (111) face or a (200) face being 0.5-2.0°, and the hard film containing oxygen more in grain boundaries than in crystal grains.

Abstract: In a radius end mill having a bottom edge formed on the end face thereof, a radius edge designed in a substantially quarter arc shape and formed at a corner portion thereof, and an outer peripheral edge formed spirally on the side surface thereof, the bottom edge and the radius edge being continuously connected to each other at a connecting point A while the radius edge is continuously connected to each other at a connecting point B, when a view taken along a plane that passes through the connecting points A and B and crosses a rake face of the radius edge is represented by an R cross-sectional view, the rake face of the radius edge is designed to have a convex curved line extending from the connecting point A to the connecting point B in the R cross-sectional view.

Abstract: A tool coated with a hard Ti/B layer having fine boron nitride particles dispersed therein, wherein the bonding energy of B and N is observed in an ESCA analysis of the hard coating layer; wherein peaks of c-BN and h-BN is detected in an Raman spectroscopy of the hard coating layer; wherein a ratio Q1/Q2 of a peak intensity Q1 of c-BN to a peak intensity Q2 of h-BN is 1.0 or more; wherein a half-value width Z of a (200) face in an X-ray diffraction of the hard coating layer is in a range of 0.3° to 0.6°; and wherein a ratio K/L of a face thickness K to a flank thickness L in the tool is 1.0 or more, whereby the hard coating layer has high hardness, high lubricating properties and excellent crater wear resistance, with chemical reactions with a work suppressed.

Abstract: A multilayer-coated cutting tool comprising a cutting tool substrate, and a multilayer coating film comprising a first hard coating film formed on the substrate and a second hard coating film formed on the first hard coating film, the first hard coating film comprising one or more metallic elements selected from the group consisting of Ti, Al and Cr, and one or more non-metallic elements selected from the group consisting of N, B, C and O; and the second hard coating film comprising Si and one or more metallic elements selected from the group consisting of metallic elements of Groups 4a, 5a and 6a of the Periodic Table and Al, and one or more non-metallic elements selected from the group consisting of N, B, C and O; the second hard coating film being a composition-segregated polycrystalline film comprising a phase having a relatively high Si concentration and a phase having a relatively low Si concentration.

Abstract: An insert-exchangeable, rotary tool to which throwaway inserts are detachably attached, the insert comprising substantially square-shaped face and bottom surface and an outward curved flank on each side surface, and having a positive-type shape in which an outward curved edge line formed by the face and the flank serves as a cutting edge; each flank having in a substantially center portion a flat surface portion extending to the bottom surface without contacting with the cutting edge; a major cutting edge formed by the outward curved edge line circularly extending from its lowermost point toward a periphery of the tool when the insert is attached to the insert-exchangeable, rotary tool, such that it has a negative radial rake; and the lowermost point being positioned inward a center of the outward curved major cutting edge.

Abstract: An indexable type rotary cutting tool (1) has at least one indexable inserts (3, 6). The indexable insert (3, 6) has a main cutting edge (7) and an outer peripheral cutting edge (9). The main cutting edge (7) ranges from 3 to 35 degrees in cutting edge angle, and the main cutting edge (7) is shaped like and arc or a substantially arc, and the outer peripheral cutting edge (8) is shaped like a straight line, an arc, or a substantially arc so as to be back-tapered with respect to a center axis of the tool.

Abstract: A TiCN-based cermet comprises 5-25 weight % of a binder phase mainly composed of Co and/or Ni, the balance being substantially a hard phase and inevitable impurities, the hard phase being mainly composed of carbide, nitride and/or carbonitride and containing at least Ti and W, the cermet having a cross-section microstructure in which the number of Ti-rich particles having an area of 0.02 &mgr;m2 or more is 1000 or less per a unit area of 1000 &mgr;m2.

Abstract: A multilayer-coated cutting tool comprising a cutting tool substrate, and a multilayer coating film comprising a first hard coating film formed on the substrate and a second hard coating film formed on the first hard coating film, the first hard coating film comprising one or more metallic elements selected from the group consisting of Ti, Al and Cr, and one or more non-metallic elements selected from the group consisting of N, B, C and O; and the second hard coating film comprising Si and one or more metallic elements selected from the group consisting of metallic elements of Groups 4a, 5a and 6a of the Periodic Table and Al, and one or more non-metallic elements selected from the group consisting of N, B, C and O; the second hard coating film being a composition-segregated polycrystalline film comprising a phase having a relatively high Si concentration and a phase having a relatively low Si concentration.

Abstract: An aluminum oxde-coated article has a first coating layer and a second coating layer formed in this order on a substrate, the first coating layer having a single- or multi-layer structure and being made of at least one selected from the group consisting of carbides, nitrides, carbonitrides, oxides, oxycarbides, oxynitrides and oxycarbonitrides of metals in Groups IVa, Va and VIa of the Periodic Table, and the second coating layer being constituted by at least one &agr;-aluminum oxide-based oxide layer, which has an equivalent X-ray diffraction peak ratio PR (1 0 10) of 1.3 or more in a (1 0 10) plane.

Abstract: In the multi-layer-coated member composed of an ultra-hard alloy substrate and a multi-layer coating formed thereon, the multi-layer coating comprises two or more first layers each composed of at least one of carbides, nitrides and carbonitrides of elements of Groups 4a, 5a and 6a of the Periodic Table and Al, and two or more second layers each composed of at least one of oxides, carboxides, oxinitrides and carboxinitrides of elements of Groups 4a, 5a and 6a of the Periodic Table and Al laminated alternately. The first layers adjacent via the second layer are continuous in crystal orientation.

Abstract: A highly stiff end mill comprising a shank, a plurality of helix cutting edges on the periphery of the end mill, the end mill being characterized in that a radial rake angle of the helix cutting edges in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the end mill is set in the range of -29.degree. to 0.degree. and a core diameter of the end mill is set in the range of 70 to 90% of the outside diameter of the end mill.By selectively determining the negative rake angle in the range described above, this end mill is applicable to hard materials and has general-purpose properties. The improper factors of the end mill, such as increased cutting resistance, can be compensated for by setting the core diameter thereof to the range described above. This end mill is also structured to be able to cut materials with less hardness values as well as hard materials, thereby covering a wide range of applications.

Abstract: There can be provided a TiC-base cermet alloy whose hardness is equal to or higher than that of a Ti(C, N)-base cermet alloy and which is excellent in toughness by strengtening the binder phase of the TiC-Base cermet alloy which does not involve the problem of denifrification at the time of sintering. The titanium-carbide-base cermet alloy comprises a hard phase which contains titanium carbide as a main component and a binder phase which contains one or both of Co and Ni as main components, wherein amounts of Ti and Mo in the binder phase satisfy the conditions, by weight T: 0.85.ltoreq.Mo (wt. %)/Ti (wt. %), and 6 wt. %.ltoreq.[Ti +Mo].

Abstract: A cermet alloy having a structure comprising a hard phase and a bonding phase, said hard phase comprising (1) at least one of MC, MN and MCN, wherein M is at least one element selected from Ti, Zr, Hf, Th, V, Nb, Ta, Pa, Cr, Mo, U and W and (2) at least one W-Co-B compound; said bonding phase comprising Co. The cermet has superior toughness and hardness, and can be worked by conventional sintering methods. The invention also includes a method for producing the cermet.