The demand for high-precision abrasive processes for difficult-to-machine materials, such
as hardened steel, ceramics, Ti alloys, and CFRP, has increased in various industries, such
as in the automotive, airplane, optical, and communication industries, as well as in the life
and medical sciences. Some difficult-to-machine materials can be reliably machined using
deterministic precision-cutting processes. On the other hand, hard and brittle materials,
such as ceramics, carbides, the hardened steel of molds, glassy materials, or semiconductor
materials, have to be machined using precision abrasive technologies with super abrasives
of diamond or cBN. However, the machining of high-precision components and their
molds/dies by means of abrasive processes is much more difficult because the complex
and non-deterministic natures and textured surfaces of these materials. In this sense,
precision grinding and polishing processes are primarily used to generate high-quality,
functional components usually made of difficult-to-machine materials. The surface qualities
achievable through precision grinding and polishing processes become more important in
terms of reducing machining times and costs.
This special issue covers high-performance abrasive technologies; including grinding,
lapping, polishing, and jet polishing; energy-assisted abrasive technologies; magnetic
machining technologies; and vibration-assisted technologies.