Ultrasonic machining an aperture in a workpiece

A method for machining a workpiece, comprising:

• delivering a slurry to an interface between an ultrasonic machining device and the workpiece;
• transmitting ultrasonic vibrations into the slurry at the interface using the ultrasonic machining device to form an aperture in the workpiece;
• and
• extracting the slurry and debris from the forming of the aperture through a passage that extends within the ultrasonic machining device to a tip of the ultrasonic machining device.

A machining system for forming an aperture in a workpiece, the machining system comprising a slurry delivery device, an ultrasonic machining device and a controller;

• the slurry delivery device configured to deliver a slurry to an interface between the ultrasonic machining device and the workpiece;
• the ultrasonic machining device configured to transmit ultrasonic vibrations into the slurry at the interface to form the aperture in the workpiece;
• and
• the controller configured to
• monitor a feedback parameter during the forming of the aperture;
• provide a control signal based on the feedback parameter;
• and
• communicate the control signal to the slurry delivery device to adjust a parameter of the delivery of the slurry to the interface.