Ultrasonic machining and forming

Until recently ultrasonic machining meant the hammer action of a tool tip which drives an abrasive into the workpiece and cuts out a hole in its own image. Now however new approaches are being tried. If, for example, a conventional lathe tool or milling tool is vibrated at about 20 kc/s it cuts faster and more smoothly and uses less power. The author has based this survey of all aspects of machining on his lecture to the conference “Ultrasonics for industry” held in London in September, 1964