a metal turning chip breaking apparatus includes an impulse actuator in the form of a piezoelectric element that rapidly expands and contracts in response to a rapidly applied and removed voltage . this , in turn , is used to impulsively move a cutter support in a matching fashion , causing a cutter to rapidly withdraw from and return to the cut in a chopping action . this breaks up the chip , which would otherwise form continuously . there is no need to synchronize the incremental motion of the cutter with the rotation of the workpiece .