Abstract
Introduction of the concept of ploughing into the metal-cutting process lead to the abandoning of the assumption of collinearity of the resultant force on tool face and on the shear plane. With this understanding the tool face force is found to produce a bending effect causing bending stresses in the shear zone. Study of the chip formation mechanism when varying cutting speed showed that increased bending action reduces the shear angle and vice versa. A set-up for the development of an analytical model of the chip formation process based on the combined effect of shear and bending stresses in the shear zone has been given. Application of the gained insight to the design of the cutting tool for maximum tool life by controlling of the chip-tool contact was suggested. Brief introduction to the study of cyclic events in chip formation and their relation to the tool life is presented.