9411994 Williams Nontraditional Manufacturing processes are being used to produce geometrically complex and highly accurate parts from modern materials. This project involves an effort to link abrasive flow machining (AFM) research with a leading machine tool builder of the equipment. The project will involve the principal investigator spending one summer at the machine tool builder. The project entails three major objectives: (1) Integration of abrasive flow machining research results into industrial applications. Particularly, the use of the acoustic emission monitoring system. (2) Involvement of graduate engineering students in the AFM research projects. This will include students from colleges and universities. (3) Exposure of the academic researcher to the competitive issues facing the machine tool builders. Expected benefits include enhanced technology of the abrasive flow-machining systems, greater understanding of AFM and better awareness of industry needs, and the establishment of long-term collaborative research efforts.
