The Future of Ultrasonic-Assisted Turning: Development Directions and Research Prospects

Research on metal machining with ultrasonic mechanical oscillation assistance, referred to as ultrasonic-assisted machining (UAM), has become a prominent topic in recent publications. The advantages of ultrasonic oscillation, when integrated with conventional machining techniques like lathe work, have facilitated the process of cutting challenging-to-machine materials like nickel alloys, titanium alloys, and composite materials, making it easier and more efficient. This article provides an overview of comprehensive literature highlighting the advantages of reducing cutting forces, minimizing residual stresses in materials, and improving the surface roughness quality of machined parts between the ultrasonic-assisted turning (UAT) method and conventional turning (CT) method. This article also synthesizes designs of ultrasonic vibration systems for cutting tools with intermittent impact mechanisms. The modeling and simulation for the UAT process are also summarized. The main objective of this paper is to underscore the good points of UAT and propose new research directions for this field in the future.