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Recent Advances in Mechanical Micromachining

2006, CIRP Annals - Manufacturing Technology

Abstract

This paper reviews some of the main drivers, developments and future requirements in the field of micromanufacturing as related to the machining process from the perspective of the recent research and development literature. For the purposes of this paper micromachining includes creation of precise two and three dimensional workpieces with dimensions in the range of a few tens of nanometers to some few millimeters by cutting using defined geometry cutting tools. The review includes topics of process physics, including materials and microstructural effects, machine tools, tooling and sensing, workpiece and design issues, software and simulation tools, and other issues, e.g. surface and edge finish, and outlook for future developments.

Key takeaways

  • In this review, micromachining is strictly defined as mechanical cutting of features with tool engagement less than 1 mm with geometrically defined cutting edges.
  • Moriwaki and Okuda [13] pioneered research on the practical issues in micromachining in the late 1980s and investigated fundamental aspects of micromachining including chip formation, crystallographic orientation effects and grain boundary effects (to be discussed in a later section), tool edge radius effects, cutting force, etc. and conducted ultra precision diamond cutting on copper material with depths of cut from 3 μm to 2.5 nm.
  • Many researchers have observed changes in various parameters, such as cutting force, chip formation, and surface roughness over multi phases or multi grains in micromachining.
  • Hence, the value of minimum chip thickness varies with cutting edge radius, workpiece material, and cutting processes as reported.
  • Diamond cutting tools were used in most of the early micromachining research due to their outstanding hardness (for wear resistance) and ease by which a sharp cutting edge could be generated through grinding.