Science, Maths & Technology
Ultrasonic machining (USM)
The workpiece is held in a tank of slurry containing abrasive particles, the slurry is injected into the space between a vibrating tool and stationary workpiece. Material is abraded away until a mirror image of the tool is cut into the workpiece.
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Abrasive jet cutting
A high pressure, high velocity jet of water (or air), mixed with dry abrasive particles to form a slurry, is forced through a nozzle in the cutting head. The jet impinges on the surface of the workpiece, eroding away material.
Science, Maths & Technology
Water jet cutting (Hydrodynamic cutting)
High velocity, high pressure water jets (or a mixture of water and an abrasive) are used to cut into the surface of the workpiece. Used mainly on non-metallic thin sheet material.
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Creep feed grinding
Effectively a milling process, as high volumes of material can be removed, producing deeper cuts, in a single pass of the grinding wheel. Final surface finishing of the workpiece is provided during a second pass of the grinding wheel, which has by then been dressed by a small diamond roller. Chips of workpiece material are washed away by a jet ...
Science, Maths & Technology
Centreless grinding
Differs from the conventional grinding process in that the workpiece is held between two grinding wheels, rotating in the same direction at different speeds, and a work rest platform. The speed of the grinding wheels rotation relative to each other determines the rate at which material is removed.
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Grinding
A mechanical process using a rotating grinding wheel made from abrasive material containing small particles of grit ranging from fine to coarse. The wheel revolves around a central axis, making contact with the surface of the workpiece, while the particles act as cutting tools that cut chips from the material.
Science, Maths & Technology
Multipoint cutting (rotational)
A mechanical machining process, where a tool with more than one sharp cutting edge rotates on a horizontal or vertical axis, to remove material from the workpiece.
Science, Maths & Technology
Multipoint cutting (translational)
A mechanical machining process, where a tool with more than one sharp cutting edge (‘teeth’) moves horizontally or vertically to remove material from the workpiece.
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Single point cutting
A mechanical machining process where a tool with a single sharp cutting edge is used to remove material from the workpiece.
Science, Maths & Technology
Flame cutting
A stream of high purity oxygen is directed onto a small pre-heated area on the surface of the workpiece, igniting the metal and oxidising it, removing material and creating the kerf.
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Plasma arc cutting
An electrical arc is formed between the plasma torch (-ve) and the workpiece (+ve). Plasma passes through a constricting fine bore nozzle, creating a high velocity, high-temperature jet of plasma that transfers the arc to the workpiece, melting away material to form the kerf.
Science, Maths & Technology
Laser cutting
Mainly used for precision cutting of materials with a low melting point. A finely focused laser beam locally heats the surface of the workpiece, vaporising and melting away material. Residue material is removed by induced vapor pressure, or by gas jets (gas-assisted laser cutting).