Patent ID: 8586214

Claim:
A cutting tool comprising: a cutting tool substrate provided with a rake face and a flank face; a cutting edge at a ridgeline between the rake face and the flank face; a coating layer on surfaces of the substrate including the rake face and the flank face, wherein the coating layer comprises Ti a Al b Nb d M e (C 1-x N x ), (M being selected as at least one element from the group consisting of Si, W, Mo, Ta, Hf, Cr, Zr, and Y, in the content ranges of 0.3≦a≦0.8, 0≦b≦0.6, 0.01≦d≦0.25, 0≦e≦0.25, a+b+d+e=1, and 0≦x≦1); and droplets on the coating layer having an Nb content ratio that is higher at the rake face than at the flank face.