Existing machining technologies have several problems: machining is sometimes impossible because the minute tube to be machined and the working tool come into contact with each other at a point other than the machining position; a tube of too small a diameter cannot be machined because it is easily bent by the tool contact force during machining; and finally, a general problem in any minute tube machining technology is that the tube cannot be precisely held.

The newly developed system adopts a non-contact laser machining technology in which the tube is not subjected to force during machining. As the same laser light source is used for both machining and measurement, no displacement appears between the measured and the machined positions, and the laser beam is irradiated on the precise position by means of an error-compensation even if the target tube has holding-position error. Through electrochemical finish machining, the heat-affected layer inherent to laser machining is removed to provide a smooth surface.