The fracture characteristics and tool life of ceramics and WC, CBN cutting tool when turning heat treated steel STD11(H_RC 60) were investigated experimentally to clarify the machinability and optimum tool materials in cutting of difficult-to-cut material with high hardness. Forthermore, the behaviors of the tool wear and failure were examined with regard to cutting force. The hardened steel wore the cutting tool edge rapidily and increased the cutting forces, especially radial force. The tool was worn by the abrasive action. Flank Weat of Al₂O₃-TiC ceramic and WC tool become relatively large and CBN & Al₂O₃ceramic tool had a long life among the tool materials tested. The tool fracture patterns were just like minor cutting wear, flank wear, crater wear, notch wear, chipping. Flank wear rate was accelerated by occurrence of chipping. During the proceeding of machining, it was possible to foresee the catastrophic fracture of tool by abrupt increase of radial force.