The failure and tool life of chamfered cutting tool in interrupted cutting are investigated experimentally, and finite element technique is applied to the analyses of the distribution of the stresses along the tool rake face of various geometries of chamfered cutting tool. The stress analysis was based on a two-dimensional model as encountered in orthogonal cutting. In this paper, the distributions of compressive principal stress along the rake face by the finite element technique are compared with the position of the failure and tool life, and well indicate the experimental results.