The creation of textures and structures on contact surfaces is of importance for improving contact conditions for mating surfaces. Laser machining shows promise as a prospective technique in the fabrication of micro- and nanometre scale structures on difficult-to-cut materials. This study provides new information on manufacturing process operating variables for the use of femtosecond lasers in structuring the carbide tool rake face with a view to improving the tool–chip contact phenomena. Experiments were based on a femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser system with a wavelength of 800 nm, pulse duration of 100 fs and repetition rate of 1 kHz. The effect of laser fluence and scanning speeds on the geometry and quality of the structures was investigated. The research draws upon the requirements for cutting tools and defines the best laser process parameters to preserve the effectiveness of the carbide material in machining. This work is important for innovative development of cutting tools, alleviating critical contact conditions on the tool–chip flow faces and reducing energy demand in machining.