Machining

Abstract

Machining includes the traditional chip-making processes (e.g., milling, drilling, and turning), as well as the growing array of nontraditional procedures. The annual economic value of material removal, measured in terms of labor and overhead, is estimated at over $125 billion in the U.S. alone. The field of material removal is continually changing, being influenced recently by the emergence of near-net-shape technology, continual evolution of difficult-to-machine alloys, and proliferation of composite materials. Advances in cutting tool technology to meet these challenges will include new materials, cutting systems, and other surface-enhancement techniques aimed at yielding longer tool life. New methods for planning and processing with a heavy dependence on the computer will be used to improve productivity of material-removal operations. Mentioned are automatic machining equipment, flexible manufacturing systems, smart sensors, artificial intelligence, and neural networks.