Characteristics of AE(Acoustic Emission) signal is related to cutting conditions, tool materials, and tool geometry in metal cutting. Relation between AE signal and tool wear was investigated experimentally. Experiment is carried out by interrupted cutting for SCM420 workpiece with TiN coating tool on HSS material. AE RMS voltage and count per event were increased according to tool wear. The major results are as follows : 1) AE RMS value is nearly constant as cutting speed changes, but is rapidly increase as feed rate increases. 2) AE RMS value and Count per Event increase as tool wear increases. 3) It is more effective to monitor tool wear by Incremental rate of AE RMS value than by Incremental rate of count per event.