Machining components made of advanced ceramics: Prospects and trends

Finishing costs represent a major factor in the manufacture of high-performance ceramic products. This paper points out ways to reduce these costs. It discusses both options for green machining with maximum accuracy and processes for treating the sintered product. With regard to the latter, the paper focuses on the usually necessary removal of the firing skin. Grinding, laser-assisted turning, ultrasonic lapping and laser ablation are processes examined in detail.