Tool Wear in Machining of Advanced Ceramics

Advanced Ceramics are extensively in use in modern technological world. A major breakthrough is required in lowering the production costs and improving producibility and reliability in use for advanced-ceramic components and products to achieve their predicted potential. Machining is needed to produce the required size, shape and surface finish not possible by forming methods. To accelerate the commercialization of Advanced Ceramics low cost machining is of interest to the researchers all over the world. This paper is an attempt to study the tool wear problems associated with machining methods like Diamond machining, Electrodischarge Machining, Ultrasonic Machining and Rotary Ultrasonic Machining in the machining of advanced ceramics. Experiments have been conducted to machine High Alumina, Silicon Carbide and Steatite using ultrasonic drilling process and the data thus generated has been analysed and inferences drawn. The paper also discusses production accuracy, surface roughness, machining rates and tool wear values obtained while machining advanced ceramics.