Ultrasonic machining of titanium and its alloys: a state of art review and future prospective

Titanium and its alloys are increasingly being used in many industries because of their high strength-to-weight ratio and resistance to corrosion. However, inherent properties like low thermal conductivity and chemical reactivity at elevated temperatures pose a major problem in machining of these alloys. Ultrasonic machining (USM) is a non-conventional mechanical material removal process known for machining hard and brittle materials using shaped tools, high frequency – low amplitude mechanical motion and abrasive slurry. The present paper reviews the fundamental principles of USM and work done with regard to effect of operating parameters on material removal rate (MRR), tool wear rate (TWR) and surface finish on titanium work piece.