Seemingly cutting-edge ultra-precision machining

It had already emerged in the last century.

(1) The 1950s to the 1980s marked the period of technological pioneering.

Driven by the needs of cutting-edge technologies such as aerospace, large-scale integrated circuits, and lasers, the United States took the lead in developing ultra-precision machining techniques and pioneered diamond-tool ultra-precision cutting— Single-point diamond turning (SPDT) technology , also known as “ Micro-inch technology ”, used for machining laser fusion reflectors, as well as large spherical and aspherical components for tactical missiles and crewed spacecraft.

(2) The 1980s to the 1990s marked the early stage of civilian industrial applications.

With government support, the U.S. companies Moore Corporation and Prutech have begun developing ultra-precision machining equipment. Commercialization Meanwhile, Japan’s Toshiba and Hitachi, as well as Cranfield University in Europe, have also successively launched products and begun to put them into use. Civilian Industrial Optical Components manufacturing. However, at that time, ultra-precision machining equipment remained expensive and scarce, with most systems custom-built as dedicated machines.

During this period, it is possible to machine hard metals and hard-brittle materials. Ultra-Precision Diamond Grinding Technology and Grinding Machines It has been developed, but its machining efficiency cannot match that of a diamond lathe.

In addition, The precision of the equipment is also gradually approaching the nanometer level. Moreover, the size range of workpieces that can be machined has expanded, leading to increasingly broad applications. With the advancement of CNC technology, additional developments have also emerged. Ultra-precision five-axis milling and fly-cutting technology It is now capable of machining complex parts such as non-axisymmetric aspheric surfaces.

The perennial theme of ultra-precision machining. Exploring what can… Balancing efficiency and accuracy The processing method has become the goal of researchers in the field of ultra-precision machining.

(2) Process Integration

High production efficiency is increasingly becoming a prerequisite for enterprises to survive, leading to calls for “using grinding in place of research” and even “using grinding in place of polishing.” Furthermore, Perform multiple machining operations with a single machine. The trend toward processes such as turning, drilling, milling, grinding, and finishing is becoming increasingly pronounced.

(3) Scaling up and scaling down

Processing large optoelectronic devices for the aviation, aerospace, and space sectors requires the establishment of… Large-scale ultra-precision machining equipment ; Processing micro‑devices in fields such as microelectromechanical systems and optoelectronic information requires Micro ultra-precision machining equipment 。

In general, fixed‑grit ultra‑precision machining techniques such as super‑precision grinding and honing are striving to match the machining accuracy of free‑grit processes, while free‑grit ultra‑precision machining is seeking to achieve the efficiency of fixed‑grit methods. Ultra-precision machining technology is advancing toward high efficiency, high quality, low cost, and environmental friendliness—conditions that are conducive to mass production.