Recently, mechanical components with miniaturized size, complex shape and fine surface are on demand from industries such as mobile electronics, medical devices and defense. The size of them is smaller than several millimeters, the shape has micro-holes, curve, or multi-step and the surface is mirror-like. This features are not able to be machined with the conventional machining, therefore electro-discharge machining (EDM), cutting, and laser machining have been applied. If the technologies are assisted by vibration, high aspect ratio and good surface are to be achieved. In this paper, prior and current researches of vibration-assisted machining are reviewed. Machining mechanisms with vibration-assisting are explained, their effects are shown, and vibrating apparatuses are discussed. Especially, comparison between with and without vibration assisting is presented. This review shows the vibration-assisted machining is effectively fabricate the components with small and complicated shape and fine surface finish.
