A Review of INCONEL® Alloy's Non-conventional Machining Processes

With the increased usage of difficult-to-machine materials for high-temperature applications, problems like high-temperature machining, build-up-edge, and tool wear have a major contribution to high-cost manufacturing. This review intends to promote a comprehensive resume about non-conventional machining processes that may facilitate the machinability of INCONEL®, lower manufacturing costs and moderate production problems. To expedite the approach of the subject to other future researchers, the chosen timeline goes from 2018 to 2023. Having twenty references as a limiting factor, each non-conventional processes have one or two states-of-the-art. The main keywords used in seeking information were: “non-conventional manufacturing”, “EDM”, “ECM”, “hybrid manufacturing”, “LBM”, “MAF”, “WJM”, “INCONEL® 718” and “INCONEL® 625”. The combination of them enabled to find information about the evolution of INCONEL® non-traditional machining technologies. To subsequent research, a trend of non-conventional manufacturing is inexistent, however, some techniques are yet to be deeply exploited. It was ascertained, nevertheless, the characteristics of some non-conventional processes pose great advantages over traditional ones.