Rotary ultrasonic machining of silicon carbide: designed experiments

Silicon carbide (SiC) has found a variety of engineering applications due to its superior properties. However, it is still desirable to study cost-effective processes to machine silicon carbide. This paper presents the results of a designed experimental investigation into Rotary Ultrasonic Machining (RUM) of silicon carbide. A four-variable two-level full factorial design was employed to reveal main effects as well as interaction effects of four process variables (spindle speed, feedrate, ultrasonic power and grit size). The process outputs studied include cutting force, surface roughness and chipping size.