The search for increased productivity and cost reduction in machining can be interpreted as the desire to increase the material removal rate, MRR, and maximize the cutting tool utilization. The CNC process is complex and involves numerous limitations and parameters, ranging from tolerances to machinability. A well-managed preparation process creates the foundations for achieving a reduction in manufacturing errors and machining time. Along the preparation process of the NC-program, two different studies have been conducted and are presented in this thesis. One study examined the CAM programming preparation process from the Lean perspective. The other study includes an evaluation of how the cutting tools are used in terms of MRR and tool utilization. The material removal rate is defined as the product of three variables, namely the cutting speed, the feed and the depth of cut, which all constitute the cutting data. Tool life is the amount of time that a cutting tool can be used and is mainly dependent on the same variables. Two different combinations of cutting data might provide the same MRR, however the tool life will be different. Thereby the difficulty is to select the cutting data to maximize both MRR and cutting tool utilization. A model for the analysis and efficient selection of cutting data for maximal MRR and maximal tool utilization has been developed and is presented. The presented model shortens the time dedicated to the optimized cutting data selection and the needed iterations along the program development.

The use of pre-hardened mold steels has increased appreciably over the years; more than 80% of the plastic mold steels are used in pre-hardened condition. These steels are delivered to the customer in finished state i.e. there is no need of any post treatment. With hardness around ~40HRC, they have properties such as good polishability, good weldability, corrosion resistance and thermal conductivity. Machinability is a very important parameter in pre-hardened mold steels as it has a direct impact on the cost of the mold. In normal machining operations involving intricate or near net shapes, machining constitutes around 60% of the total mold cost. Efforts are underway to explore every possible way to reduce costs associated with machining and to make production more economical. All the possible parameters which are considered to affect the machinability are being investigated by the researchers. This thesis work focuses on the effect of prior austenite grain size on the machinability of pre-hardened mold steel (Uddeholm Nimax).  Austenitizing temperatures and holding times were varied to obtain varying grain sized microstructures in different samples of the same material. As it was difficult to delineate prior-austenite grain boundaries, experimental and empirical methods were employed to obtain reference values. These different grain sized samples were thereafter subjected to machining tests, using two sets of cutting parameters. Maximum flank wear depth=0.2mm was defined for one series of test which were more akin to rough machining, and machining length of 43200mm or maximum wear depth=0.2mm were defined for second series of tests which were similar to finishing machining. The results were obtained after careful quantative and qualitative analysis of cutting tools. The results obtained for Uddeholm Nimax seemed to indicate that larger grain sized material was easier to machine. However, factors such as retained austenite content and work hardening on machined surface, which lead to degradation of machining operations were also taken into consideration. Uddeholm Nimax showed better machinability in large grained samples as retained austenite(less than 2%) content was minimal in the large grained sample. Small grained sample in Uddeholm Nimax had a higher retained austenite (7+2%) which resulted in degradation of machining operation and a lesser cutting tool life.