I’ve found that machining aluminum nitride (AlN) successfully is less about cutting speed and more about controlling subsurface damage. Blade bond, diamond grit size, coolant delivery, and feed rate all influence edge integrity and dimensional accuracy. In many cases, a finer grit and stable feed produce a cleaner edge, even if the cut takes longer.
For anyone working with technical ceramics, this guide on diamond blades for aluminum nitride covers blade configurations and selection considerations.
I’m interested to hear what others have found most effective—particularly regarding bond type and grit selection for minimizing edge chipping while maintaining reasonable throughput.