Fabrication of micro end mills by wire EDM and some micro cutting tests

Extremely fine end mills with noncircular cross-sectional profiles have been fabricated utilizing wire electro discharge machining. By using suitable electro discharging conditions, the geometrical error of the end mill and the roundness of the cutting edge were both controlled below 1 νm. Micro grooving tests were performed on electroless nickel plating using these end mills, and the machining behavior was investigated. Nearly burr-free precision machining was realized. Until a total cutting distance of 1000 mm, no remarkable change was found in the cutting force and chip formation, demonstrating the high anti-wear ability of the tools. It can be presumed that the electro discharge-induced micro asperities on the tool surface play an important role in machining by improving the tribological properties of the tool-workpiece interface.