ABSTRACT
Light alloys have great industrial interest because of their wide range of applications, especially when weight is a critical specification. However, these materials require considerable attention during machining due to the build-up edge (BUE) formation, low ignition point, or low thermal conductivity. Drilling operations are widely used in the machining of light alloys. However, there is a need to discuss the nontraditional drilling techniques, drilling in sheets, type of taps, the use of the cutting fluids, and the imperfections and faults, such as the burr, that can damage the part or its working capacity. The present chapter reviews the main processes for the machining of holes and internal threads focusing on light alloys, analyzing the main problems that can affect these processes and also techniques that can help improving them.
