Patent ID: 7582170

Claim:
A process for the low-wear micromachining of workpieces made from metallic materials or metal alloys in which a workpiece ( 1 ) is micromachined using at least one machining apparatus ( 5 ) that has a diamond tool ( 6 ), comprising the steps of: a) prior to the machining, subjecting a surface region of the workpiece ( 1 ) to a thermochemical surface layer treatment so as to create a thermochemically treated surface zone ( 2 ) within the surface region of the workpiece ( 1 ) by introducing a selected element or combination of elements to the surface region of the workpiece ( 1 ) and by allowing the selected element or combination of elements to penetrate into the surface region of the workpiece ( 1 ) so as to create the thermochemically treated surface zone, and b) machining the thermochemically treated surface zone ( 2 ) of the workpiece ( 1 ) using the machining apparatus ( 5 ).