Ultra-precision machining is vital in semiconductor and optical industries, demanding high accuracy. We specialize in cutting challenging brittle materials and creating free-form surfaces using advanced equipment like Fast Tool Servo (FTS) for industrial applications.

In recent years, as the required precision of cameras and measuring instruments has increased, free-form lenses have gained attention as an effective means to enhance optical performance. In our laboratory, we are researching nanometer-precision free-form machining using the latest 5-axis turning machines capable of processing non-axisymmetric shapes, across various materials and processing conditions.

 Demand for brittle materials such as silicon and glass as lens materials has been increasing in recent years. Brittle materials pose significant challenges in machining, yet the demand for heightened form accuracy escalates annually. Consequently, cutting techniques capable of achieving nano-scale surface finishes are critically important, offering a promising approach to attaining superior machining accuracy. We have been researching suitable machining parameters for various brittle materials and have succeeded in high-precision machining.

Ultrasonic vibration-assisted cutting (UVC) is a technique that enhances the cutting process by superimposing high-frequency vibrations on the cutting tool. This vibration causes periodic intermittent cutting, altering the material removal mechanism compared to conventional cutting. As a result, UVC offers several advantages, including reduced cutting forces, minimized tool wear, and improved surface finish of the machined workpiece. UVC is particularly effective in machining difficult-to-cut materials, such as hardened steels and glass, and is widely used in precision manufacturing applications. By combining slow-tool-servo and ultrasonic vibration-assisted cutting, Yan lab has achieved free-form surfaces with nanometer surface roughness on high entropy alloys using diamond tools.