The author has more than 30 years experience in the metal cutting, cutting tool design and tool implementation practice in various industries.Viktor P. Astakhov received a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Tula Polytechnic University, Tula-Moscow, Russia in 1983. He was awarded a Dr Sci designation (Dr Habil., Dr d'État) in 1991 for his outstanding performance and profound impact on science and technology. He was awarded by a certificate of recognition 'State Professor of Ukraine' in 1994. He has won a number of National and International awards for both his teaching and research including the SME James M. Beabers Lifetime Achievement Award.
He has published fundamental and text books, book chapters and many papers in professional journals as well as papers in trade periodicals. Among the books he authored are: Tribology of Metal Cutting (Elsevier, 2006), Physics of Strength and Fracture Control (2004), Mechanics of Metal Cutting (CRC Press, 1999). He is the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Advances in Machining and Forming Operations, Special Issue Editor, Board Member, Reviewer and an Advisor for many international journals and professional societies.His main research and application interests include theory of metal cutting and its applications; cutting tool design, assessment and optimization; machinability of materials, new tool materials and coatings.Being the Tool Research and Application manager of the General Motors Unit of PSMi, Dr. Astakhov deals with many problems in the cutting tool design and application worldwide in various industries including automotive, power and aerospace. He is directly involved in all facets of the tooling management stating from the concept stage and finishing with tool troubleshooting. He works with many cutting tool, machine tool and machine tool accessories manufacturers to improve efficiency of the part machining through the assuring the coherency of various machining system and tailoring cutting tools for these systems.
He is responsible for the revealing the best machining practices, tool performance improvement and tooling cost saving as well as for the communizing cutting tool (design, application, re-sharpening, re-tipping etc.) over various manufacturing plants in different countries.As a University professor, Dr. Astakhov has been conducting research on novel concept in tool design, new tool materials, machinability of emerging work materials, physical and numerical modelling of machining operations.