Abstract:Microholes were made on the rake of the cemented carbide tools and MoS2 solid luMicroholes were made on the rake of the cemented carbide tools and MoS2 solid lu bricants were embedded into the microholes to form selflubricated tools (SLT〖CD*2〗1). Dry machining tests on hardened steel were carried out with the selflu bricated tool, the tool with microholes on the rake without solid lubricants (SLT〖CD*2〗2) and the conventional tool (SLT〖CD*2〗3). The variation of cutting tempe rature for 45# hardened steel cutting with the three cutting tools were tested by the TH5104 thermo tracer. The result shows that the cutting temperature of S LT〖CD*2〗1 selflubricated tool decreased obviously. It deceased 15%~20% than that of SLT〖CD*2〗3. And the cutting temperature of SLT〖CD*2〗2 decreased 5%~10% t han that of SLT〖CD*2〗3. Through the analysis of cutting temperature distribution, it was observed that the cutting temperature decreased and the raked face resistan ce was improved since selflubricating film on the rake face decreased the shea r stress and the contact length between chip and tool.