A Direct on-line ultrasonic sensing method to determine tool and process conditions during turning operations

Machining operations in automated manufacturing centers are under-performing by 20/80%.Optimizing these machining operations requires on-line knowledge about the cutting tools condition and the process satae.Currently, this information is either not reliable or not available in a timely manner .This is due to the lack of suitable sensors, which must measure on-line directly and accurately one or more of the relevant tool and process information sources in the hostile machining environment .