What does the term "nontraditional machining" refer to?

The term "nontraditional machining" refers to machining techniques that do not involve traditional cutting edges to remove material from a workpiece. Instead, these methods often utilize energy forms that can take many non-mechanical forms, such as electrical discharge, laser, or water jet cutting, among others. This distinguishes them from conventional machining processes, which typically rely on mechanical cutting tools to achieve desired material removal.

Nontraditional machining is especially valuable when dealing with difficult-to-machine materials or intricate shapes that cannot be efficiently or effectively produced using conventional methods. By employing alternative energy forms, these processes can achieve high precision and complex geometries that traditional tools might find challenging.