Ultrasonic Machining of Tungsten Carbide

An electronically driven and controlled magnetostrictive transducer is used in conjunction with a suspended abrasive to machine hard, brittle materials such as ceramics and the carbide metals. The transducer has been constructed especially to supply high amplitude vibrations at the surface being machined. Data taken indicate that certain compromises must be made relative to cutting speed and tool wear. The effects of other variables such as vibration amplitude and abrasive size have been optimized for machining tungsten carbide, but no conclusions have yet been reached regarding the mechanism of ultrasonic machining.