The machining of titanium alloys, particularly Ti6Al4V, presents a significant challenge in manufacturing engineering. Its high strength, low thermal conductivity and high chemical reactivity make Ti6Al4V a hard-to-machine material. However, the machining process is critical for aerospace and biomedical industries. The rapid wear and short lifetime of cutting tools are the main limitations in Ti6Al4V machining, leading to a large increase in manufacturing costs and compromising the surface quality of machined components. Faced with this problem, the texturing of cutting tools, especially through laser-based techniques, has gained considerable attention in the last decade due to improvement of the tribological properties of textured surfaces. Laser Surface Texturing (LST) has emerged as a promising technique to improve the tribological performance of cutting tools by enabling the creation of precise surface structures. Building on prior research, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the most recent research on this topic, summarizing key findings and outcomes from various investigations.

Machining titanium alloys, particularly Ti6Al4V, pose significant challenges in manufacturing engineering. The combination of high strength and low thermal conductivity makes Ti6Al4V a particularly difficult material to machine. One of these difficulties is the rapid wear and short tool life of cutting tools, which substantially increases manufacturing costs. To address this issue, the texturing of cutting tools, especially using laser-based techniques, has garnered significant attention due to its potential to enhance the tribological performance of textured surfaces. In this paper, by means of a groove design applied to a tungsten carbide (WC) disc by laser surface texturing (LST), its behavior and wear have been evaluated after subjecting it to tribological pin-on-flat tests by confronting it with Ti6Al4V pins with different reciprocating times (250 s, 500 s, 750 s and 1000 s) in lubricated and dry conditions. In addition, these same tests have been replicated without textures for comparison. Through conducting this research, we expect to gain new insights into texturing processes and their influence on friction and sliding behavior under lubricated conditions. Additionally, the study aims to evaluate how lubricant retention capacity varies to reduce friction and wear across different testing durations. The results show better behavior with textures, reaching a higher rate of volume loss in the titanium pins. The main conclusions obtained after these tests are that textures offer a better performance in tests up to 800 s. In addition, after this time, the lubricant begins to lose its properties, becoming an abrasive paste.

El texturizado de herramientas de corte es una mejora del diseño de herramientas que facilita el mecanizado de materiales difíciles como las aleaciones de titanio. Se trata de una solución que incrementa la sostenibilidad del mecanizado al facilitar la reducción de lubricantes y disminuir el desgaste de herramientas. Aunque actualmente existen varias investigaciones al respecto, la mayoría se centran en aplicaciones directas sin observar en detalle la evolución del desgaste producido utilizando ensayos tribológicos simplificados. Este trabajo presenta un estudio comparativo de la metodología de caracterización del material eliminado con el objetivo de analizar el efecto de la orientación de las texturas en el comportamiento tribológico de herramientas de corte con posible aplicación al mecanizado de titanio. En esta metodología, se realizan ensayos plano sobre plano con el par de contacto Ti- WC-Co, analizando el efecto de la orientación de la textura a 0º, 45º y 90º. Para la evaluación la pérdida de material de pin este estudio propone tres métodos diferentes. En dos de ellos se mide la pérdida de material al final del ensayo analizando en uno la reducción de la masa y en el otro la longitud del pin empleado. El tercer método es un método medición indirecta e in situ que permite estudiar la posición en Z del cabezal que sujeta el pin, utilizando los sensores propios del tribómetro empleado y permitiendo un estudio de la evolución en el tiempo. Los resultados muestran variaciones significativas entre las metodologías empleadas que se ven influenciadas por la orientación de las texturas. Es especialmente significativo el efecto debido a variaciones en el proceso relacionadas con la sujeción del pin y el desgaste del disco en aquellas mediciones realizadas por los sensores del equipo. Sin embargo, este método permite evaluar el efecto de la distancia recorrida y la linealidad de respuesta al desgaste.

Additive manufacturing via Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) has enabled the development of functional components with customized mechanical properties. In this context, the use of polymers with flame-retardant additives offers an ideal solution for sectors such as aerospace, where fire resistance is a top priority. However, the tribological properties of these materials have not yet been sufficiently studied, despite their relevance in applications subjected to friction or wear. This study analyzes the tribological behavior of parts manufactured using PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol) and flame-retardant PETG (PETG FP) through dry condition Ball-on-Disk tests. The influence of manufacturing parameters such as extrusion temperature and layer height on the coefficient of friction (CoF), surface wear, and roughness is investigated. The results show that PETG FP exhibits an increased CoF compared to conventional PETG, although it demonstrates more stable behavior at elevated temperatures. Statistical analysis via ANOVA reveals that material type and layer height significantly affect tribological properties, while temperature plays a secondary role. This study provides key insights for the selection of polymeric materials in environments with critical functional demands.