This paper presents the results of groove and end face milling of CFRP materials by high speed steel end mill tools and polycrystalline diamond (PCD) and TiAlN-coated tungsten carbide end mill tools. The experimental results of end-face milling show carbon fibers on the surface of all the tools used in this experiment. However, the carbon fibers do not occur in groove milling when using PCD coated tools. In addition, the distribution of the carbon fibers of CFRP composites changed with the cutting temperature and cutting force. The overall result shows PCD-coated tools have longer tool life compared to high speed steel and TiAlN-coated end mill tools in processing carbon reinforced plastic composites.
