Abstract
A variety of machining methods have been devised to achieve ultraprecision parts as printing products, electronic devices, metal mold of optical components and so on. Microgrooves have been created by use of rotational diamond cutting tools, which results in the generation of microgrooves with a long slope at the cutting start and end points. Among microgrooves, flat–end microgrooves strongly attract the concern in the fields of optical cards, advanced printing technology and so on. Flat–end microgrooves mean those having no slope at the end, which cannot be machined by a conventional method. The study deals with the development of creating liner and curved microgrooves with flat–end at the both groove ends. At first, a non–rotational cutting tool makes a V–shaped microgroove. At this time, the cutting tool is stopped at the groove end so that the chips can remain there. Then, the workpiece is rotated, and the opposite groove end is machined in the similar manner. Finally, the cutting tool removes the excessive parts of chips over the plane surface at each groove end. As a result, it is found that the method has the potential of creating fine microgrooves with two flat–ends.
