Review on the machining characteristics and research prospects of conventional microscale machining operations

The concept of miniaturizing machine tools has received a strong interest in the research community due to their ability to fabricate intricate components. Lower power consumption, higher productivity rate, and smaller sizes of work stations have enabled microscale machining operations to acquire an edge over other fabrication techniques in various applications such as aerospace, instrumentation, automotive, biomedical, etc. The literature is filled with works done by researchers working in this domain. A significant contribution comes from the works which have been published during the period 1998-2014. The focus of these studies has primarily been on conventional and nonconventional micromachining techniques. Since nonconventional machining operations such as microelectrical discharge machining, laser machining, etc., are not compatible with traditional workpiece materials, conventional micromachining techniques such as micromilling and microdrilling are generally used. However, as of today, there has been no revision on the state of the-art in this field to serve as a reference for the experienced researcher and as a handbook for the newcomer. In this review, we have attempted to summarize the current state of understanding on this topic. A variety of issues which are representative of micromachining operations are critically analyzed and presented. Conventional micromachining operations have been compared with their nonconventional counterparts with respect to performance characteristics such as burr formation, surface integrity, etc., and their advantages and shortcomings have been listed. Meticulous efforts have been taken to address the key challenges faced in typical micromachining operations. Taking the convenience of the reader into consideration, we have presented a bird's-eye view of the various micromachining operations and simulation studies as performed in the last decade. In the last few years, diamond turning operations have gained more importance and are particularly used for machining composite materials and superalloys. This paper gives an insight into these operations apart from providing an outlook for future growth and development of micromachining technology.