Having reviewed the extensive literature on the wear of the cutting tool, we chose the theoretical description of flank wear as the subject matter of this paper. Based on the optical electron-optical and morphological studies of the physical characteristics of wear processes we came to the conclusion that the cutting distance need not only be taken into consideration in abrasive, adhesive processes but also in thermally activated diffusion, oxidation processes. Consequently, we propose the application of a mathematical model of wear rate, an autonomous nonlinear differential equation that takes into account the wear-accelerating effect of both the technological parameters of cutting and the temperature developing on the tool flank land. Technological parameters may also change depending on time. The complex wear equation was validated by the results of the cutting tests performed with P20 carbide on C45 carbon steel. We could model the adverse effect of the rapidly changing cutting speed on the wear of the tool during vibration.
