This article is a comprehensive collection of summary charts that provide data and information that are helpful in considering and selecting applicable processes alternative to the conventional material-removal processes. Process summary charts are provided for electrochemical machining, electrical discharge machining, chemical machining, abrasive jet machining, laser beam machining, electron beam machining, ultrasonic impact grinding, hydrodynamic machining, thermochemical machining, abrasive flow machining, and electrical discharge wire cutting.

Finishing refers to a wide variety of processes that generally involve material removal in one form or another to generate surfaces with specific geometries, tolerances, and functional or decorative characteristics. This article discusses four major finishing methods, namely, abrasive machining, electropolishing, mass finishing, and shot peening. In each case, it describes subtypes, process variations, and the associated equipment.

Ceramics usually require some form of machining prior to use to meet dimensional and surface quality standards. This article focuses on abrasive machining, particularly grinding, and addresses common methods and critical process factors. It covers cylindrical, centerless, and disk grinding and provides information on tooling, wheel selection, work material, and operational factors. It also discusses precision slicing and slotting, lapping, honing, and polishing as well as abrasive waterjet, electrical discharge, laser, and ultrasonic machining.

Abrasive finishing is a method where a large number of multipoint or random cutting edges are coupled with abrasive grains as a bond or matrix material for effective removal of material at smaller chip sizes. This article provides a broad overview of the various categories of abrasive products and materials, abrasive finishing processes, and the mechanisms of delivering the abrasives to the grinding or machining zone. Abrasive finishing processes, such as grinding, honing, superfinishing, microgrinding, polishing, buffing, and lapping, are discussed. The article presents a brief discussion on abrasive jet machining and ultrasonic machining. It concludes with a discussion on the four categories of factors that affect the abrasive finishing or machining: machine tool, work material, wheel selection, and operational.

Abrasive jet machining (AJM) is a process that removes material from a workpiece through the use of abrasive particles entrained in a high-velocity gas stream. This article discusses the operation of principal components, advantages, and disadvantages of the AJM system. It describes several factors that determine the characteristics of the AJM process. These include flow rates of the jet stream, type and size of abrasive powders, and distance between the workpiece and nozzle.

Abrasive flow machining (AFM) finishes surfaces and edges by extruding viscous abrasive media through or across the workpiece. This article commences with a schematic illustration of the AFM process that uses two opposed cylinders to extrude semisolid abrasive media back and forth through the passages formed by the workpiece and tooling. It discusses the major elements of an AFM system, such as machine, tooling, and abrasive media. The article provides information on polishing, radiusing, edge finishing, and surface finishing capabilities of the AFM. It concludes with information on the various applications of the AFM process.