Machining Alloy 52 Kovar using different machining environments

Kovar is extensively used in electronics and optoelectronics applications where hermetic seals are required between metal and glass components. Despite its use, there is limited knowledge on machinability of Kovar. This paper investigates the effect of cutting tool rake angle and machining environment in mesoscale end milling operations of Kovar for the first time. Two cutting rake angles of 10° and 12° were evaluated under flood, minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) and cryogenic machining environments. The results show that abrasive wear is the major tool wear mechanism in machining Kovar and cutting tools with 12° rake angle provide the longest tool life using MQL.