Abstract: Hard, wear-proof surfaces are produced on a metallic material, such as a ferrous material, by applying a decomposable compound containing an element capable of hardening metallic materials, in the form of a powder, a paste-like admixture or a liquid, onto surfaces to be hardened, and applying an energy surge, obtained from, for example, a laser beam or an electron beam, to the surfaces containing such coating so as to decompose the coating and release the element which diffuses into the surface to be hardened. With this process, the base material is not subjected to any meaningful thermal loads and is not altered in term of its mechanical and physical properties.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for monitoring tool wear, noise emission signals associated with a cutting operation of the tool are monitored and evaluated to determine when the tool has become blunt. With the system disclosed, friction noises associated with the cutting tool are excluded from analysis.