Ultrasonic machining

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Schematic of ultrasonic machining process Ultrasonic Machine Process.jpg
Schematic of ultrasonic machining process
An ultrasonic drill from 1955 Ultrasonic drill 1955.jpg
An ultrasonic drill from 1955

Ultrasonic machining is a subtractive manufacturing process that removes material from the surface of a part through high frequency, low amplitude vibrations of a tool against the material surface in the presence of fine abrasive particles. The tool travels vertically or orthogonal to the surface of the part at amplitudes of 0.05 to 0.125 mm (0.002 to 0.005 in.). [1] The fine abrasive grains are mixed with water to form a slurry that is distributed across the part and the tip of the tool. Typical grain sizes of the abrasive material range from 100 to 1000, where smaller grains (higher grain number) produce smoother surface finishes. [1]

Contents

Ultrasonic vibration machining [2] is typically used on brittle materials as well as materials with a high hardness due to the microcracking mechanics.

Process

An ultrasonically vibrating machine consists of two major components, an electroacoustic transducer and a sonotrode, attached to an electronic control unit with a cable. The abrasive grains in the slurry now act as a free cutting tool as they strike the workpiece thousands of times per second. [3] An electronic oscillator in the control unit produces an alternating current oscillating at a high frequency, usually between 18 and 40 kHz in the ultrasonic range. The transducer converts the oscillating current to a mechanical vibration. Two types of transducers have been used in ultrasonic machining; either piezoelectric or magnetostrictive:

Piezoelectric transducer
This consists of a piece of piezoelectric ceramic, such as barium titanate, with two metal electrodes plated on its surface. The alternating voltage from the control unit applied to the electrodes causes the piezoelectric element to bend back and forth slightly, causing it to vibrate.
Magnetostrictive transducer
This consists of a cylinder of ferromagnetic material such as steel inside a coil of wire. Magnetostriction is an effect which causes a material to change shape slightly when a magnetic field through it changes. The alternating current from the control unit, applied to the coil, creates an alternating magnetic field in the magnetostrictive cylinder which makes it change shape slightly with each oscillation, causing it to vibrate.

The transducer vibrates the sonotrode at low amplitudes and high frequencies. [4] The sonotrode is usually made of low carbon steel. [1] A constant stream of abrasive slurry flows between the sonotrode and work piece. This flow of slurry allows debris to flow away from the work cutting area. The slurry usually consists of abrasive boron carbide, aluminum oxide or silicon carbide particles in a suspension of water (20 to 60% by volume). [1] The sonotrode removes material from the work piece by abrasion where it contacts it, so the result of machining is to cut a perfect negative of the sonotrode's profile into the work piece. Ultrasonic vibration machining allows extremely complex and non-uniform shapes to be cut into the workpiece with extremely high precision. [4]

Machining time depends on the workpiece's strength, hardness, porosity and fracture toughness; the slurry's material and particle size; and the amplitude of the sonotrode's vibration. [4] The surface finish of materials after machining depends heavily on hardness and strength, with softer and weaker materials exhibiting smoother surface finishes. The inclusion of microcrack and microcavity features on the materials surface depend highly on the crystallographic orientation of the work piece's grains and the materials fracture toughness. [5]

Material properties, cutting rate and roughness of various materials subjected to ultrasonic vibration machining with a 15 μm grit silica carbide slurry. [5]
MaterialCrystalline structureDensity
(g/cm3)
Young's modulus
(Gpa)
Static hardness
(Gpa)
Fracture toughness,
KIc (MPa·m1/2)
Cutting rate
(μm/s)
Ra
(μm)
Rz
(μm)
AluminaFCC/polycrystalline4.0210–38014–203–53.81.510.9
ZirconiaTetragonal/polycrystalline5.8140–21010–128–102.31.710.7
QuartzTrigonal/single crystal2.6578.316.0–15.00.54–0.528.41.59.6
Soda-lime glassAmorphous2.5696.3–5.30.53–0.4326.52.514.0
FerritePolycrystalline~1806.8128.21.911.6
LiFFCC/single crystal2.4354.60.95–0.891.526.50.84.6

Mechanics

Ultrasonic vibration machining physically operates by the mechanism of microchipping or erosion on the work piece's surface. Since the abrasive slurry is kept in motion by high frequency, low amplitude vibrations, the impact forces of the slurry are significant, causing high contact stresses. These high contact stresses are achieved by the small contact area between the slurry's particles and the work piece's surface. Brittle materials fail by cracking mechanics and these high stresses are sufficient to cause micro-scale chips to be removed from its surface. The material as a whole does not fail due to the extremely localized stress regions. The average force imparted by a particle of the slurry impacting the work piece's surface and rebounding can be characterized by the following equation:

Where m is the mass of the particle, v is the velocity of the particle when striking the surface and to is the contact time, which can be approximated according to the following equation:

Where r is the radius of the particle, co is the elastic wave velocity of the work piece, E is the work pieces Young's Modulus and ρ is the materials density. [1]

Types

Rotary ultrasonic vibration machining

In rotary ultrasonic vibration machining (RUM), the vertically oscillating tool is able to revolve about the vertical center line of the tool. Instead of using an abrasive slurry to remove material, the surface of the tool is impregnated with diamonds that grind down the surface of the part. [1] Rotary ultrasonic machines are specialized in machining advanced ceramics and alloys such as glass, quartz, structural ceramics, Ti-alloys, alumina, and silicon carbide. [6] Rotary ultrasonic machines are used to produce deep holes with a high level of precision.[ citation needed ]

Rotary ultrasonic vibration machining is a relatively new manufacturing process that is still being extensively researched. Currently, researchers are trying to adapt this process to the micro level and to allow the machine to operate similar to a milling machine.[ citation needed ]

Chemical-assisted ultrasonic vibration machining

In chemical-assisted ultrasonic machining (CUSM), a chemically reactive abrasive fluid is used to ensure greater machining of glass and ceramic materials. Using an acidic solution, such as hydrofluoric acid, machining characteristics such as material removal rate and surface quality can be improved greatly compared to traditional ultrasonic machining. [7] While time spent machining and surface roughness decrease with CUSM, the entrance profile diameter is slightly larger than normal due to the additional chemical reactivity of the new slurry choice. In order to limit the extent of this enlargement, the acid content of the slurry must be carefully selected as to ensure user safety and a quality product. [7]

Applications

Since ultrasonic vibration machining does not use subtractive methods that may alter the physical properties of a workpiece, such as thermal, chemical, or electrical processes, it has many useful applications for materials that are more brittle and sensitive than traditional machining metals. [7] Materials that are commonly machined using ultrasonic methods include ceramics, carbides, glass, precious stones and hardened steels. [1] These materials are used in optical and electrical applications where more precise machining methods are required to ensure dimensional accuracy and quality performance of hard and brittle materials. Ultrasonic machining is precise enough to be used in the creation of microelectromechanical system components such as micro-structured glass wafers. [8]

In addition to small-scale components, ultrasonic vibration machining is used for structural components because of the required precision and surface quality provided by the method. The process can safely and effectively create shapes out of high-quality single crystal materials that are often necessary but difficult to generate during normal crystal growth. [5] As advanced ceramics become a greater part of the structural engineering realm, ultrasonic machining will continue to provide precise and effective methods of ensuring proper physical dimensions while maintaining crystallographic properties.[ speculation? ]

Advantages

Ultrasonic vibration machining is a unique non-traditional manufacturing process because it can produce parts with high precision that are made of hard and brittle materials which are often difficult to machine. [1] Additionally, ultrasonic machining is capable of manufacturing fragile materials such as glass and non-conductive metals that can not be machined by alternative methods such as electrical discharge machining and electrochemical machining. Ultrasonic machining is able to produce high-tolerance parts because there is no distortion of the worked material. The absence of distortion is due to no heat generation from the sonotrode against the work piece and is beneficial because the physical properties of the part will remain uniform throughout. Furthermore, no burrs are created in the process, thus fewer operations are required to produce a finished part. [9]

Disadvantages

Because ultrasonic vibration machining is driven by microchipping or erosion mechanisms, the material removal rate of metals can be slow and the sonotrode tip can wear down quickly from the constant impact of abrasive particles on the tool. [1] Moreover, drilling deep holes in parts can prove difficult as the abrasive slurry will not effectively reach the bottom of the hole. [9] Note, rotary ultrasonic machining is efficient at drilling deep holes in ceramics because the absence of a slurry cutting fluid and the cutting tool is coated in harder diamond abrasives. [1] In addition, ultrasonic vibration machining can only be used on materials with a hardness value of at least 45 HRC. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Piezoelectricity</span> Electric charge generated in certain solids due to mechanical stress

Piezoelectricity is the electric charge that accumulates in certain solid materials—such as crystals, certain ceramics, and biological matter such as bone, DNA, and various proteins—in response to applied mechanical stress. The word piezoelectricity means electricity resulting from pressure and latent heat. It is derived from Ancient Greek πιέζω (piézō) 'to squeeze or press' and ἤλεκτρον (ḗlektron) 'amber'. The German form of the word (Piezoelektricität) was coined in 1881 by the German physicist Wilhelm Gottlieb Hankel; the English word was coined in 1883.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ball bonding</span>

Ball bonding is a type of wire bonding, and is the most common way to make the electrical interconnections between a bare silicon die and the lead frame of the package it is placed in during semiconductor device fabrication.

An abrasive is a material, often a mineral, that is used to shape or finish a workpiece through rubbing which leads to part of the workpiece being worn away by friction. While finishing a material often means polishing it to gain a smooth, reflective surface, the process can also involve roughening as in satin, matte or beaded finishes. In short, the ceramics which are used to cut, grind and polish other softer materials are known as abrasives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grinding machine</span> Machine tool used for grinding

A grinding machine, often shortened to grinder, is any of various power tools or machine tools used for grinding. It is a type of material removal using an abrasive wheel as the cutting tool. Each grain of abrasive on the wheel's surface cuts a small chip from the workpiece via shear deformation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grinding wheel</span> Abrasive cutting tool for grinders

Grinding wheels are wheels that contain abrasive compounds for grinding and abrasive machining operations. Such wheels are also used in grinding machines.

A grinding dresser or wheel dresser is a tool to dress the surface of a grinding wheel. Grinding dressers are used to return a wheel to its original round shape, to expose fresh grains for renewed cutting action, or to make a different profile on the wheel's edge. Utilizing predetermined dressing parameters will allow the wheel to be conditioned for optimum grinding performance while truing and restoring the form simultaneously.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lapping</span> Process of removing material from two workpieces

Lapping is a machining process in which two surfaces are rubbed together with an abrasive between them, by hand movement or using a machine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ultrasonic cleaning</span> Method of cleaning using ultrasound

Ultrasonic cleaning is a process that uses ultrasound to agitate a fluid, with a cleaning effect. Ultrasonic cleaners come in a variety of sizes, from small desktop units with an internal volume of less than 0.5 litres (0.13 US gal), to large industrial units with volumes approaching 1,000 litres.

Superfinishing, also known as microfinishing and short-stroke honing, is a metalworking process that improves surface finish and workpiece geometry. This is achieved by removing just the thin amorphous surface layer of fragmented or smeared metal left by the last process with an abrasive stone or tape; this layer is usually about 1 μm in magnitude.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diamond tool</span> Cutting tool with diamond grains

A diamond tool is a cutting tool with diamond grains fixed on the functional parts of the tool via a bonding material or another method. As diamond is a superhard material, diamond tools have many advantages as compared with tools made with common abrasives such as corundum and silicon carbide.

Abrasive machining is a machining process where material is removed from a workpiece using a multitude of small abrasive particles. Common examples include grinding, honing, and polishing. Abrasive processes are usually expensive, but capable of tighter tolerances and better surface finish than other machining processes

Vibratory finishing is a type of mass finishing manufacturing process used to deburr, radius, descale, burnish, clean, and brighten a large number of relatively small workpieces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sonotrode</span>

In ultrasonic machining, welding and mixing, a sonotrode is a tool that creates ultrasonic vibrations and applies this vibrational energy to a gas, liquid, solid or tissue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cemented carbide</span> Type of composite material

Cemented carbides are a class of hard materials used extensively for cutting tools, as well as in other industrial applications. It consists of fine particles of carbide cemented into a composite by a binder metal. Cemented carbides commonly use tungsten carbide (WC), titanium carbide (TiC), or tantalum carbide (TaC) as the aggregate. Mentions of "carbide" or "tungsten carbide" in industrial contexts usually refer to these cemented composites.

Abrasive jet machining (AJM), also known as abrasive micro-blasting, pencil blasting and micro-abrasive blasting, is an abrasive blasting machining process that uses abrasives propelled by a high velocity gas to erode material from the workpiece. Common uses include cutting heat-sensitive, brittle, thin, or hard materials. Specifically it is used to cut intricate shapes or form specific edge shapes.

Surface grinding is done on flat surfaces to produce a smooth finish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flat honing</span> Metalworking grinding process

Flat honing is a metalworking grinding process used to provide high quality flat surfaces. It combines the speed of grinding or honing with the precision of lapping. It has also been known under the terms high speed lapping and high precision grinding.

Ultrasonic impact treatment (UIT) is a metallurgical processing technique, similar to work hardening, in which ultrasonic energy is applied to a metal object. This technique is part of the High Frequency Mechanical Impact (HFMI) processes. Other acronyms are also equivalent: Ultrasonic Needle Peening (UNP), Ultrasonic Peening (UP). Ultrasonic impact treatment can result in controlled residual compressive stress, grain refinement and grain size reduction. Low and high cycle fatigue are enhanced and have been documented to provide increases up to ten times greater than non-UIT specimens.

Magnetic field-assisted finishing, sometimes called magnetic abrasive finishing, is a surface finishing technique in which a magnetic field is used to force abrasive particles against the target surface. As such, finishing of conventionally inaccessible surfaces is possible. Magnetic field-assisted finishing (MAF) processes have been developed for a wide variety of applications including the manufacturing of medical components, fluid systems, optics, dies and molds, electronic components, microelectromechanical systems, and mechanical components.

High-frequency vibrating screens are the most important screening machines primarily utilised in the mineral processing industry. They are used to separate feeds containing solid and crushed ores down to less than 200 μm in size, and are applicable to both perfectly wetted and dried feed. The frequency of the screen is mainly controlled by an electromagnetic vibrator which is mounted above and directly connected to the screening surface. Its high-frequency characteristics differentiate it from a normal vibrating screen. High-frequency vibrating screens usually operate at an inclined angle, traditionally varying between 0° and 25° and can go up to a maximum of 45°. They should operate with a low stroke and have a frequency ranging from 1500 to 9000 RPM. Frequency in High frequency screen can be fixed or variable. Variable High Frequency screen is more versatile to tackle varied material condition like particle size distribution, moisture and have higher efficiency due to incremental increase in frequency. G force plays important role in determining specific screening capacity of screen in terms of TPH per sqm. G force increases exponentially with frequency.

References

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  2. Blogger, M. "Best ultrasonic Flow Detector Price sensors, arduino, Operations Various models and Effects". INDIA SEARCH ONLINE. Retrieved 2020-08-30.
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  4. 1 2 3 "Ultrasonic Machining". www.ceramicindustry.com. Retrieved 2016-02-12.
  5. 1 2 3 Guzzo, P. L.; Shinohara, A. H.; Raslan, A. A. (2004). "A comparative study on ultrasonic machining of hard and brittle materials". Journal of the Brazilian Society of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering. 26 (1): 56–61. doi: 10.1590/S1678-58782004000100010 . ISSN   1678-5878.
  6. Sundaram, M (2009). Micro rotary ultrasonic machining. Vol. 37. Dearborn, MI: Society of Manufacturing Engineers. p. 1. ISBN   9780872638624. ISSN   1047-3025.
  7. 1 2 3 Choi, J. P.; Jeon, B. H.; Kim, B. H. (6 March 2007). "Chemical-assisted ultrasonic machining of glass". Journal of Materials Processing Technology. Advances in Materials and Processing Technologies, July 30th – August 3rd 2006, Las Vegas, Nevada. 191 (1–3): 153–156. doi:10.1016/j.jmatprotec.2007.03.017.
  8. "Ultrasonic Machining". Bullen Ultrasonics. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
  9. 1 2 3 Jagadeesha, T (2014). "Ultrasonic Machining" (PDF). Non Tradition Machining – National Institute of Technology Calicut.