| The diamond tool is commonly used in | | | | as well as a cryongenically cooled chamber. |
| micro-machining as it can withstand the micro | | | | However, these methods require costly |
| hardening of the workpiece surface during | | | | equipment modification and restrict direct |
| micro-machining. This micro-hardening creates | | | | supervision of the micro-cutting process.The latest |
| enough resistance to break the tool bit easily in | | | | breakthrough came when the diamond tool was |
| micro milling, but not a diamond tool. | | | | subject to ultrasonic vibration during micro-cutting. |
| Micro-machining using diamond tool could be | | | | It has been shown that a diamond tool subject to |
| performed at high speeds and generally fine | | | | ultrasonic vibration can cut the steel well enough |
| speeds to produce good surface finish such as | | | | to produce a mirror surface finish with acceptable |
| mirror surfaces and high dimensional accuracy in | | | | tool life. The ultrasonic vibration at the diamond |
| non-ferrous alloys and abrasive non-metallic | | | | tool tip allows the tool face to cool down |
| materials.However, if a diamond tool were to be | | | | considerably during the cutting process and delays |
| used to cut steel, one of the most common | | | | the chemical reaction between the diamond tool |
| engineering materials used in industries, the | | | | and the steel workpiece. As a result, the diamond |
| diamond tool will face severe tool wear. While | | | | tool life is increased by a few hundred times.For |
| diamond only softens at 1350 degree Celsius and | | | | example, a single crystal diamond tool with |
| melts at 3027 degree Celsius, and is also the | | | | feedrate 5 micron/revolution, cutting speed zero |
| hardest material in the world, it has a weakness. | | | | to 5m/min and depth of cut 10 micron was |
| Diamond succumbs to graphitization, which means | | | | attached to a ultrasonic vibration generator so |
| that it will change its crystal structure to graphite | | | | that the diamond tool tip vibrated about 4 |
| crystal structure at 200 degree Celsius in the | | | | microns while it was used to cut stainless steel. |
| presence of a catalyst metal such as carbon steel | | | | The mirror surface finish of the cut steel surface |
| and alloys with titanium, nickel and cobalt.There | | | | was measured at 8 nm Ra!With more and more |
| have been various attempts to improve the tool | | | | machining companies moving into the niche micro |
| life of the diamond tool while cutting steel so as | | | | machining field, such ultrasonic vibration assisted |
| to improve the efficiency and profitability of this | | | | cutting can only help the progressive company to |
| operation. Such processes include micro-cutting | | | | achieve process leadership and innovative |
| the steel workpiece in a carbon-rich gas chamber | | | | differentiation. |