Abstract:Today, abrasive machining and precision grinding are materials driven processes. Though precision grinding is traditionally used to produce parts with high accuracy and high degrees of surface integrity, abrasive machining can remove significant volumes of stock with similar precision and virtually no burrs. Abrasive machining competes with the large chip machining processes of milling and broaching and even turning, in metals. As ceramics and cermets however come to the fore and metal parts are now being manufactured in ceramic materials there is no alternative process - precision grinding and abrasive machining is the only way. The seminar will highlight areas where there is a need for research and process development, critical not only to the future of industrial abrasive processes, but also the ability to machine the next generation of materials. Abrasive machining and precision grinding relies on aspects of machine tool construction; machine tool control; grinding tools (wheels, dressers and abrasives), grinding fluid and filtration, and the interplay between each technology. Theoretical as well as industrial aspects of research will be highlighted with the object of providing fruitful topics for university and industry sponsored programs that are critical to the future of high precision manufacturing processes and systems.