Material removal mechanisms in ultrasonic-assisted diamond turning of brittle materials

The innovative technology of ultrasonic-assisted turning has already demonstrated the potential to bridge the gap between challenging materials such as steel and glass and ultraprecision machining with monocrystalline diamond tools. Now, extensive technological investigations of this process have been performed to identify the relevant parameters, which determine the material removal mechanisms for the ductile diamond turning of optical glass. In a first step, the complex kinematics, which correspond to the combination of the constant spindle speed and the high-dynamic oscillation of the tool, have been simulated. The material removal mechanisms have been identified on the basis of the results of these investigations.