Objective The aim of this project is the substantial improvement of cutting tools for the machining of nickel and titanium alloys. These alloys present several problems during machining operations, and as a result today there are important restrictions regarding tool performance that limit the economy and quality of the final parts. The most important fact is the trend to work harden, due to the localized overheating, and stick or adhere to the cutting tool surface. Therefore, tools with sharp edges, with a very good surface finish and low chemical affinity are required. The application of selected PVD nano-structured coatings with a thickness of less than 1 micron can improve the cutting tools without worsening at all the sharpness, making it possible that the Ni & Ti machining benefit from a technology that has already been successfully applied to machining other materials, i.e. steel alloys, but has showed little if any improvement in Ni & Ti. A PVD nano-structured coatings can decrease friction (lower overheating risk) allowing higher machining speeds or even avoiding the use of lubricant. Furthermore, a hard nano-structured coating with a nano-thickness can be applied to the tool maintaining its surface finishing and sharpness, thus delaying the presence of local wear defects; this will reduce material sticking and increase tool life. The objectives of the project will thus focus on i)longer cutting tool life ii)faster machining and iii)a reduction/elimination in the use of lubricants and coolants. This will translate into more economic Ni and Ti made parts, which are directly related to social targets widely assumed as not only important but mandatory by the European society: A)Sustainable development: more efficient use of energy resources as efficiency in power generation involves processes at higher temperatures, B)Environmentally friendly and affordable transport, C)Quality of life: dependable and affordable biomedical devices. Fields of science engineering and technologymechanical engineeringtribologylubricationnatural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistrytransition metalsengineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringaerospace engineeringaircraftengineering and technologymechanical engineeringmanufacturing engineeringsubtractive manufacturingengineering and technologymaterials engineeringcoating and films Keywords Nanotechnology Programme(s) FP6-SME - Horizontal research activities involving SMEs: Specific activities covering wider field of research under the Focusing and Integrating Community Research programme 2002-2006. Topic(s) SME-1 - Co-operative Research (all areas of science and technology) Call for proposal FP6-2003-SME-1 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme Data not available Coordinator FUNDACION INASMET EU contribution No data Address Paseo Mikeletegi 2, Parque Tecnologico Miramon SAN SEBASTIAN Spain See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Participants (6) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all ARISTOTELES UNIVERSITY OF THESSALONIKI (RESEARCH COMMITTEE) Greece EU contribution No data Address ARISTOTELES UNIVERSITY OF THESSALONIKI THESSALONIKI See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data BRØDRENE JOHNSEN AS Norway EU contribution No data Address Tverrveien 4 VESTBY See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data CEMECON AG-COATINGS, TECHNOLOGY & PROCESS Germany EU contribution No data Address Adenauerstr. 20B WUERSELEN See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data DESARROLLOS MECANICOS DE PRECISION S.L. Spain EU contribution No data Address Bº PLAZA S/N MENDARO See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data MORFOMICHANIKI LTD Cyprus EU contribution No data Address STADIOU 55 PARALIMNI See on map Total cost No data TESSCENTER, S.L. Spain EU contribution No data Address POL. IND. CAN JARDÍ C/. COMPOSITOR SCHUBERT, NAVE 1 B RUBÍ (BARCELONA) See on map Total cost No data