Unconventional Machining Processes
History of Machining
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 In ancient days – hand tools (stones, bones or stick).
 Later – hand tools of elementary metals (bronze or iron)
 Till 17th Century – tools were either hand operated or driven
mechanically by very elementary methods.
 Wagons, ships, furniture, etc. – were produced.
 Introduction of water, steam and electricity – power driven
machine tools
 Caused a big revolution in 18th and 19th centuries.
 1953 – Numerical control machine tools – enhanced the
product productivity and accuracy.
DEMERITS OF CONVENTIONAL
MACHINING PROCESSES
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UNCONVENTIONAL
MANUFACTURING
PROCESS
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Non –Traditional Machining Process
or
Un-Conventional Machining Process
Unconventional Forming Process
UNCONVENTIONAL MACHINING
PROCESS
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UNCONVENTIONAL FORMING
PROCESS
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Traditional or Conventional Machining
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Metal Cutting Processes
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Abrasive Machining
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Cylindrical grinding
Flat surface grinding
Abrasive Machining
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Centreless grinding
Need for Unconventional Machining
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• Greatly improved thermal, mechanical and chemical properties of
modern materials – Not able to machine through conventional
methods. (Why???)
• Ceramics & Composites – high cost of machining and damage
caused during machining – big hurdles to use these materials.
• In addition to advanced materials, more complex shapes, low
rigidity structures and micro-machined components with tight
tolerances and fine surface finish are often needed.
• To meet these demands, new processes are developed.
• Play a considerable role in aircraft, automobile, tool, die and mold
making industries.
Need for Unconventional Machining
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• Very high hardness and strength of the material. (above 400 HB.)
• The work piece is too flexible or slender to support the cutting or
grinding forces.
• The shape of the part is complex, such as internal and external
profiles, or small diameter holes.
• Surface finish or tolerance better than those obtainable
conventional process.
• Temperature rise or residual stress in the work piece are
undesirable.
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Unconventional Machining Processes -
Classification
Electrical
Mechanical Based Processes
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AJM - Abrasive Jet Machining
WJM – Water Jet Machining
AWJM – Abrasive Water Jet Machining
USM – Ultrasonic Machining
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Electrical Based Processes
Electrical
EDM - Electrical Discharge Machining
WEDM - Wire Cut Electrical Discharge Machining
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Chemical & Electrochemical Based Processes
ECM - Electro –Chemical Machining
ECD - Electro Chemical Deburring
ECG – Electro –Chemical Grinding
ECH – Electro – Chemical Honing
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Thermal Based Processes
LBM - Laser Beam Machining
PAM – Plasma Arc Machining
EBM - Electron Beam Machining
Mechanical based Unconventional Processes
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USM – thru mechanical abrasion in a
medium (solid abrasive particles
suspended in the fluid)
WJM – Cutting by a jet of fluid
AWJM – Abrasives in fluid jet.
IJM – Ice particles in fluid jet.
Abrasives or ice – Enhances
cutting action.
CLASSIFICATION
CLASSIFICATION
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CLASSIFICATION
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CLASSIFICATION
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THERMAL ENERGY METHODS
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Thermal based Unconventional Processes
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Thru – melting & vaporizing
Heat Source:
Plasma – EDM and PBM.
Photons – LBM
Electrons – EBM
Ions – IBM
Machining medium:
different for different processes.
.
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ELECTRO CHEMICAL ENERGY METHODS
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CHEMICAL ENERGY METHODS
These methods involve controlled etching of the work
piece material in contact with a chemical solution
Chemical & Electrochemical
based Unconventional Processes
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CHM – uses Chemical
dissolution action in
an etchant.
ECM – uses Electrochemical
dissolution action in
an electrolytic cell.
MATERIAL – METHOD OF MACHINING
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PROCESS SELECTION
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Based on the following points
1. Physical Parameters
2. Shapes to be machined
3. Process Capability or Machining Characteristics
4. Economic Considerations
Physical Parameters
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Shapes to be
machined
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.
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Process Capability
or
Machining Characteristics
1. Material Removal rate
2. Tolerance Maintained
3. Surface Finish
4. Depth of surface Damage
5. Power required for
machining
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Process Economy
MRR – Material Removal Rate
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Tolerance
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. Engineering tolerance is the permissible limit or limits
of variation in manufacturing
Surface Roughness / Finish
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. Surface texture is one of the important factors that
control friction and transfer layer formation during
sliding.
Parts from EDM process
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Wire EDM Process
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Parts from ECM process
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Parts from Abrasive Water jet Machining
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Parts from LASER Beam Machining
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LIMITATIONS OF Un Conventional Machining
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1. More expensive process
2. Low Material Removal Rate (MRR)
3. AJM, CHM , PAM and EBM are not commercially
economical Process
ADVANTAGES of UCM
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 High Accuracy and surface finish in process
 Less Rejected pieces
 Increase productivity
 Tool material need not be harder than work piece material.
 Easy to machine harder and brittle materials
 There is no residual stresses in the machined material

I unit -_introduction_to_unconventional_machining_processes