The development of new products and manufacturing processes is enforced by inceasing environmental pollution and deceasing resources. Therefore, the reduction of energy consumption is an important factor. Magnesium alloys are at present the metallic materials with the lowest density ( = g/cm3) used in construction and offer a potential of weight reduction up to 25% even over aluminium ( 2,8 g/cm3). Products as well as production processes must meet the increasing requirements within the areas of technology, economy and ecology. Most, magnesium parts are produced by casting processes. The machining of functional elements is usually necessary. Non-reinforced magnesium alloys are considered to be easy-to-machine at low cutting speeds. The machining is characterized by short-breaking chips, high achievable surface qualities, low cutting forces, low mechanical and thermal loads on the tool and the possibility of dry machining [1 - 3].

SOURCE: Denkena, B., J. C. Becker, C. Podolsky, A. Kuhlman. "Safe Machining of Magnesium Parts by Cutting and Burnishing Operations". Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Magnesium Alloys and Their Applications. ed. Dr. K. U. Kainer. Wiley -VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. 2004.

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