ABSTRACT
High-speed machining (HSM) or high-speed cutting, for a given material, is defined as the cutting speed above which shear localization develops completely in the primary shear zone. It is preferable to define machining speeds quantitatively in terms of specific ranges. In case of very difficult-to-machine materials, it is preferable to use the term high-throughput machining rather than HSM in order to maintain a proper focus on realistic machining conditions. During the 1970s, a series of tests by the US Navy with Lockheed Missiles and Space Company proved that it was economically feasible to introduce HSM into the production environment in order to realize major improvement in productivity. Piezoelectric dynamometers are used for the determination of the machinability of materials, the improvement of tool geometry and coatings, as well as for the qualification of process strategies.
