Successive micro-scale V-grooves and a grid of pyramids were machined by elliptical vibration cutting (EVC) to investigate feasibility of using EVC as an alternative method of creating micro-molds to photo-lithography and electroforming, which have been commonly employed. An elliptical vibration grooving machine was developed which consists of two orthogonally-arranged piezoelectric actuators, a diamond cutting tool, and a motorized xyz stage. The micro-scale features were machined on materials of copper, duralumin, nickel, and hastelloy and it was found that EVC significantly reduces cutting resistance and prohibits generation of side burrs and rollover burrs, thus resulting in improving machining quality of micro-molds in all experimented workpiece materials.
