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Recently, mechanical micro-milling is one of the most promising micro-manufacturing processes for productive and accurate complex-feature generation in various materials including metals, ceramics, polymers and composites. The micro-milling technology is widely adapted already in many high-tech industrial sectors; however, its reliability and predictability require further developments. In this paper, micro-milling related recent results and developments are reviewed and discussed including micro-chip removal and micro-burr formation mechanisms, cutting forces, cutting temperature, vibrations, surface roughness, cutting fluids, workpiece materials, process monitoring, micro-tools and coatings, and process-modelling. Finally, possible future trends and research directions are highlighted in the micro-milling and micro-machining areas.

Metal additive manufacturing (MAM) has attracted significant interest in both academia and industry to produce near-net-shape engineering components. The inherent defects in MAM, however, require suitable subtractive techniques as post-processes to control dimensional and geometric tolerances as well as surface finish. The additively manufactured metals, with different microstructures than the wrought materials that produced by conventional routes, need different approaches and parameters when being machined. This review covers recent published literature on traditional micro-machining as a post-processing operation for MAM and recommends future directions. The text presents a brief review on the main AM processes followed by a comprehensive conventional micro-milling and microdrilling, as well as applications for micro-machining. Micro-tool assessment, built-up-edge prediction and prevention, and link of macro/micro-machining are areas for future research.

Aluminum Matrix Composite (AMC) represents an innovative class of materials that is extensively utilized in industries such as automotive, defense, aerospace, structural engineering, sports, and electronics. This study investigates the thrust force, exit burr formation, changes in the micro-tool, and drilled hole diameters during the micro-drilling of an aluminum-polyethylene composite panel (Al–PE). The panel consists of 3501 series aluminum skin materials bonded to a polyethylene (PE) core. Micro-drilling test parameters were designed using Taguchi’s L16 (42 23) orthogonal array. Tests were conducted with five control parameters: cutting speed with four levels (10 m/min, 20 m/min, 30 m/min, 40 m/min), feed rate with four levels (0.5 µm/rev, 1 µm/rev, 2 µm/rev, 4 µm/rev), the tool diameter with two levels (0.7 mm, 1 mm), and tool point angle with two levels (100°, 140°) using both AlTiN-coated and uncoated drills. The maximum thrust force (Fz), maximum burr height, and changes in both the drill tool and hole diameters were measured for analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results showed that, in terms of impact on Fz, tool point angle had the highest positive influence (64.54%) on the micro-drill at the entrance of composite (upper aluminum plate). The cutting speed had the highest positive influence (45.32%) on the tool in the core layer (PE core layer). The tool point angle also had the highest positive influence (68.95%) on the micro-drill at the lower layer of the composite (the lower aluminum plate). There was noticeable chip adhesion on the major cutting edge and nose area under micro-drilling conditions with higher thrust forces and burr height. The AlTiN coating had a positive effect on tool wear and hole diameter deviations, but it adversely affected the burr height.

Quartz glass has been widely used in multiple frontier fields of science and technology owing to its excellent chemical and mechanical properties, such as optical communication, semiconductor, photovoltaic power, and aerospace. ECDM (electrochemical discharge machining) is a non-traditional material removal process suitable for machining non-conductive materials of high hardness and brittleness. The tool electrode feed method is a key factor affecting the ECDM process. Experimental research was carried out for comparing the conventional gravity feed method and a newly-developed spring-force feed method. Micro tool electrodes of Φ150 µm were fabricated by combining the method of TF-WEDG (tangential feed-wire electrical discharge grinding) and reverse micro EDM (electrical discharge machining). Machined microstructures of blind holes, channels, squares, and patterns were compared by the gravity feed method and the spring-force feed method respectively. The experimental results show that the spring-force feed method can improve the micro ECDM process considering the aspects of dimensional accuracy, overcuts, deteriorated edges, surface topography, and tool wear.

At present, the production of micro parts and components with characteristic sizes ranging from micron to millimeter mainly relies on micro machining technology, but the dimensional size of micro tools (including micro cutting tools, micro grinding tools, and microelectrodes) involved in micro machining is ultra small and made of super hard material like cemented carbide and polycrystalline diamond, which makes the preparation of ultra small micro tools have become the main bottleneck restricting the development of micro machining technology. The non-contact nature of electrical discharge machining (EDM) process makes it more competent in fabricating micro tools with relatively high efficiency and low cost; especially the wire electrical discharge grinding (WEDG) invented in 1985 provides a new approach and direction to fabricate micro tools; following this trend, numerous new design requirements and theoretical concepts of EDM-based processes utilized in fabricating micro tools have been proposed and studied successively, but, very few studies have been proceed from an integrated perspective. To address the gap, this study provides a comprehensive and well-arranged literature survey of the advancements made in the fabrication of micro tools using various EDM-based methods to date along with an insightful discussion on the science and application of EDM process. The critical factors influencing process performance, different numerical models, limitations, as well as possible future research direction and development in the field of micro tools fabricated by various EDM-based methods are identified and reviewed. This article is expected to help the researchers in identifying the existing gaps and contributing towards making EDM-based processes more competent in catering the trend of parameterized and non-standardized fabrication of ultra small micro tools.

An experimental investigation was performed using a tungsten carbide tool to study the micro-electrical discharge machining behavior of two different grades of stainless steel (310 and 316 SS). The machining parameters considered to investigate the machining behavior of the chosen materials were (a) V: voltage (V), (b) C: capacitance (pf), (c) T on : pulse-on time (µs), and (d) T off : pulse-off time (µs). The machining behavior of stainless steel was evaluated in terms of material removal rate and tool wear rate. Taguchi L 16 orthogonal array and gray relational analysis techniques were employed to design and optimize the machining conditions for both responses. Scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and optical microscopic analyses were also performed to identify the characteristics of the machined surface, characteristics of the micro-tool, and the elemental composition of the machined surface. The optimum machining condition for 310 steel was found as 150 V, 100 pf, 30 µs ( T on ), and 20 µs ( T off ). On the other hand, the optimum parametric condition for 316 steel was 200 V, 1000 pf, 20 µs ( T on ), and 25 µs ( T off ).

Anti-abrasion thin-film-coated tool is well known for its enhanced micro machining performances. However, coating increases tool edge radius, which spurs additional ploughing and rubbing. Therefore, selecting appropriate thin-film thickness and suitable abrasion-resistant coating material for micro tool is necessary to reduce friction and size effects together. To meet these objectives, first, single-layer TiAlN coating having various thin-film thicknesses has been deposited on uncoated micro end mills by PVD process. By analyzing the cutting force, surface quality and edge radius of both fresh and worn tools in micro milling of P-20 steel, appropriate thin-film thickness has been found to be ≈ 1 μm. Next, single layer TiN and diamond-like-carbon (DLC) coating of thickness ≈ 1 μm have been coated on uncoated WC tools. Then coefficient of friction (COF) and hardness of all coated and uncoated surfaces are assessed. Finally, the performance of all the coated and uncoated tools have been evaluated analytically and experimentally by analyzing dynamic stability and machinability, respectively. All the coated tools manifested enhancement in performance by uplifting stability limit and reducing tool wear, cutting forces, surface roughness and burr heights compared to the uncoated tool. Owing to the least COF, the DLC-coated tool exhibited the best performance by uplifting stability limit by 23.37% and reducing cutting force, surface roughness and burr height by 27.35%, 67.7%, and 30.58%, respectively. However, for a long machining length (1200 mm), the DLC-coated tool could not exhibit such performance as compared to TiAlN-coated tool due to significant delamination.

Microcutting is a precision technology that offers flexible fabrication of microfeatures or complex three-dimensional components with high machining accuracy and superior surface quality. This technology may offer great potential as well as advantageous process capabilities for the machining of hard-to-cut materials, such as tungsten carbide. The geometrical design and dimension of the tool cutting edge is a key factor that determines the size and form accuracy possible in the machined workpiece. Currently, the majority of commercial microtools are scaled-down versions of conventional macrotool designs. This approach does not impart optimal performance due to size effects and associated phenomena. Consequently, in-depth analysis and implementation of microcutting mechanics and fundamentals are required to enable successful industrial adaptation in microtool design and fabrication methods. This paper serves as a review of recent microtool designs, materials, and fabrication methods. Analysis of tool performance is discussed, and new approaches and techniques are examined. Of particular focus is tool wear suppression in the machining of hard materials and associated process parameters, including internal cooling and surface patterning techniques. The review concludes with suggestions for an integrated design and fabrication process chain which can aid industrial microtool manufacture.

In microelectrodischarge machining (micro-EDM), dielectric plays an important role during machining operation. The machining characteristics are greatly influenced by the nature of dielectric used during micro-EDM machining. Present paper addresses the issues of micro-EDM utilizing different types of dielectrics such as kerosene, deionized water, boron carbide (B 4 C) powder suspended kerosene, and deionized water to explore the influence of these dielectrics on the performance criteria such as material removal rate (MRR), tool wear rate (TWR), overcut, diameteral variance at entry and exit hole and surface integrity during machining of titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V). The experimental results revealed that MRR and TWR are higher using deionized water than kerosene. Also, when suspended particles, i.e., boron carbide-mixed dielectrics are used, MRR is found to increase with deionized water, but TWR decreases with kerosene dielectric. Further analysis is carried out with the help of scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrographs, and it is found that the thickness of white layer is less on machined surface when deionized water is used as compared to kerosene. Also, a comparative study of machining time has been carried out for the four types of dielectrics at different machining parametric settings. Furthermore, the investigation on the machined surface integrity and wear on microtool tip have also been done in each type of the dielectrics with the help of SEM micrographs and optical photographs. Hence micro-EDM machining on Ti-6Al-4V work material with B 4 C-mixed dielectrics is performed in the investigation and reported the performance criteria of the process. It can be concluded from the research investigation that there is a great influence of mixing of boron carbide additive in deionized water dielectrics for enhancing machining performance characteristics in micro-EDM during microhole generation on Ti-6Al-4V alloy.

The recast layers, discharge craters and micro-cracks on the micro-shaft surface fabricated by wire electrical discharge grinding (WEDG) can negatively affect mechanical properties and fatigue life in particular as micro tools. An online polishing method using fluid magnetic abrasives (FMA) is proposed to improve the micro-shaft surface quality. A polishing device is designed that uses two permanent magnets to apply an external magnetic field and changes FMA container thickness to adjust magnetic field strength in the processing area. The FMA polishing device is integrated into a micro-EDM machine tool with a WEDG function, and the micro-shaft can be polished online by moving the set trajectory in the FMA. A single-factor experiment was employed on tungsten material micro-shafts fabricated by WEDG to explore the polishing ability. The effects of micro-shaft diameter, magnetic field strength, polishing time, spindle speed, abrasive particle size, and motion trajectory were analyzed. After FMA polishing, the surface roughness Ra could be reduced from 0.1 μm to below 0.05 μm generally, and the minimum could be reduced to 0.019 μm. Results show that the surface material removal was uniform and obvious. The tungsten micro-shafts had almost no deformation compared to before polishing, while the brass micro-shafts deformated obviously. After FMA polishing, the recast layer was significantly removed and the micro-shaft surface quality was improved, which was discovered by observing the surface topography. It proves that the online polishing of micro-shafts by FMA is feasible and valuable.