Abstract: Cutting energy can be transformed into cutting heat, which directly affects the cutting temperature. Therefore, it is important to understand the generation, transfer, and transformation of cutting energy to cutting temperature. In this paper, an innovation design of a new cemented carbide micro-pit turning tool specially cutting 304 stainless steel was taken as an example. Through comparative studying the cutting performance of new micro-pit turning tool and original turning tool, the relationship model between cutting energy and cutting temperature of rake face was established. And the prediction of shear energy and friction energy of the new micro-pit turning tool and experimental verification were carried out. The results show the input energy to be reduced by 8.96%, the shear energy to be decreased by 10.50% and the friction energy to be reduced by 5.32% compared with the original turning tool under dry cutting conditions using the manufacturer's recommended cutting parameters. The cutting surface temperature can be reduced by a decrease in the cutting energy. The cutting energy prediction model can serve as a reference for predicting cutting energies and cutting face temperatures under complex cutting conditions.