Micro Machining-A Review

In recent years, advanced materials with unique metallurgical properties such as super alloys, composites and ceramics have been developed to meet the demands of extreme applications. While these materials are harder, tougher, less heat sensitive and more resistant to corrosion and fatigue, they are also difficult to machine. Advanced materials are being widely used these days not only in the aerospace, defense and automotive. Therefore, the machining of difficult-to-machine materials is an important issue in the field of micromachining. Micromachining plays a vital role in miniaturization of parts used in aerospace (cooling holes in jet turbines blades), micro holes in fuel injection system of automotive, micro probes and micro needle for bio-medical application etc. Thus micromachining is important field in developed machining. This paper summarizes some of the micro machining technologies such as micro-electrical discharge machining, electro chemical micro machining, micro-laser assisted machining, and abrasive slurry jet Micro-machining, micro ultrasonic machining, and micro electron beam machining. Literature identifies that micro machining greatly influences machining of hard materials. Micromachining has great advantages in machining of hard materials in non-conventional machining as well as in conventional machining such as micro-mechanical milling, chemical etching, and micro-detonation of striking arc