MECHANISM OF THE ULTRASONIC MACHINING OF CERAMIC COMPOSITES

This paper intends to further the understanding of the basic mechanism of the ultrasonic machining of ceramic composites. Models representin g the shocking force and the material removal rate are deduced and ver ified. The principles of ultrasonic machining are also stated. The eff ects on the material removal rate and the surface roughness of the amp litude of the tool tip, the static load applied and the size of the ab rasive are measured. It has been concluded that any increase in the am ount of work/energy imparted to the machined ceramics in terms of the amplitude of the tool tip, the static load applied and the grit size o f the abrasive, will result in an increase in the material removal rat e and a roughening of the machined surface. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.