On the mechanism of material removal at the nanoscale by cutting

Material removal by machining at the nanoscale is simulated with an atomic force microscope (AFM) by in situ scratching of a ductile workmaterial (aluminum) by a hard tool (the diamond stylus of an AFM). In view of nanometric depths of cut and large radius of the tool used in the finishing operations, the material is pushed mostly to the sides by ploughing instead of chip formation in front of the tool. This mechanism is in sharp contrast to the material removal mechanism at the macroscale, as in conventional cutting, wherein all the material is removed in the form of ductile chips in front of the tool rake face and at microscale, as in grinding, wherein most of the material is removed in the form of highly deformed chips ahead of the rake face of a large negative rake tool and some side spread by ploughing due to plane stress conditions.