Abstract: A series of metal cutting experiments was performed on a CNC lathe to evaluate the performance of various coatings on different tool substrates. The workpiece material was plain medium carbon steel and the cutting tool materials were carbide and cermet inserts coated with various single as well as multilayer coatings. Machining was done under various cutting conditions of speed and feed-rate, and for various durations of Cutting. The output parameters studied were the cutting forces (axial, radial and tangential), the surface roughness of the workpiece, as well as the tool wear (crater and flank wear). From these results, the performances of the various cutting inserts are evaluated and compared. Results show that cutting forces are significantly lower when using coated cermets than when using coated carbides although different coatings on the same substrate also result in different cutting forces. However, there is less difference in the surface roughness of the finished workpiece for the various coatings and substrates.