Differential finishing of freeform surfaces (knee joint) using R-MRAFF process and negative replica of workpiece as a fixture

It is difficult and challenging to achieve uniform nanoscale surface finish in the contact zone, particularly on freeform (or sculptured) surfaces having different curvatures at different locations. Femoral (or, Knee joint component) is one of such biomedical freeform component which has complex profile along its curvature. Surface conditions of a femoral decide the life of the implant and they play a crucial role in its functionality. The variation in surface roughness of the femoral should be minimum in the contact zone. For this purpose, a special tooling is being proposed for rotational magnetorheological abrasive flow finishing (R-MRAFF) process. A negative replica of the workpiece (knee joint) as a tool (or a fixture) is used so that the medium flow velocity in the fluid flow channel is almost constant (or minimum possible variations) along the medium flow direction. It is able to do differential finishing also along the curvature. In addition, pulsating magnetic field has been used to generate vibrations in the medium in the finishing zone so that the possibility of fresh abrasive particles interacting with the surface of femoral is high. The surface finish has been achieved ranging from 26 nm to 62 nm using the proposed finishing technique and negative replica of the workpiece (femoral) as a fixture.     

Development of magnetorheological fluid-based process for finishing of ferromagnetic cylindrical workpiece

A magnetorheological fluid-based process is developed for the internal surface finishing of ferromagnetic cylindrical workpiece. The existing finishing processes based on magnetorheological fluid are not equipped to finish the internal ferromagnetic cylindrical surface significantly as it obtained higher magnetic flux density than the MR polishing fluid. At present, magnetorheological fluid-based finishing tools are designed to ensure the maximum magnetic flux density always present on the outer finishing tool core surface as compared to internal surface of ferromagnetic cylindrical workpiece surface. To validate this present principal idea, the magnetostatic finite element analysis has been performed on the newly designed finishing tools. The preliminary experiments have also been conducted to evaluate the finishing performance with the two newly designed finishing tools. The percentage reduction in surface roughness (R_a) values with I-shaped tool core is found as 65–78% after 150 min of finishing, whereas, with rectangular shaped tool core is found as 78–81% after 90 min of finishing. The results clearly revealed that the present finishing tool with rectangular shaped core is more suitable for uniform significant finishing of ferromagnetic cylindrical internal workpiece than the I-shaped core. The developed process can be useful in finishing of cylindrical mold and dies, hydraulic cylinder, barrel for injection molding, etc.     

Effect of extrusion pressure and number of finishing cycles on surface roughness in magnetorheological abrasive flow finishing (MRAFF) process

Magnetorheological abrasive flow finishing (MRAFF) was developed as a new precision finishing process for complicated geometries using smart magnetorheological polishing fluid. This process introduces determinism and in-process controllability of rheological behaviour of abrasive laden medium used for finishing intricate shapes. Magnetorheological polishing (MRP) fluid is comprised of carbonyl iron powder and silicon carbide abrasives dispersed in a viscoplastic base of grease and mineral oil and exhibits change in rheological behaviour in presence of external magnetic field. This smart behaviour of MRP fluid is utilized to precisely control finishing forces. The process performance in terms of surface roughness reduction depends on process variables like hydraulic extrusion pressure, magnetic flux density in the finishing zone, number of finishing cycles, and composition of MRP fluid. In the present work, experiments were conducted on a hydraulically powered MRAFF experimental setup to study the effect of extrusion pressure and number of finishing cycles on the change in surface roughness of stainless steel grounded workpieces. A new observation of “illusive polishing” action with the initial increase in number of finishing cycles is reported. The actual finishing action is possible only after removal of initial loosely held material remaining after grinding.     

Study of an internal magnetic abrasive finishing using a pole rotation system: Discussion of the characteristic abrasive behavior

An internal magnetic abrasive finishing process using a pole rotation system was proposed to produce highly finished inner surfaces of workpieces used in critical applications. Previous research found that the process incorporating one of the characteristic behaviors of the abrasive, the jumbling of the abrasive, results in aggressive contact of the abrasive against the inner surface, disturbing the smooth surface finish. The aim of this paper, therefore, is to characterize the in-process abrasive behavior against the surface and its effects on the finishing characteristics and to describe the finishing mechanism. The magnetic force acting on the magnetic abrasive, controlled by the field at the finishing area, is considered the primary influence on the abrasive behavior against the inner surface of the workpiece. This study examines the relationships between the magnetic field, the force on the abrasive, and the abrasive behavior. The surface roughness and material removal measurements resulting from finishing experiments demonstrate the effects of the abrasive behavior on the surface modifications. This paper also proposes a method to monitor the in-process abrasive behavior to facilitate processing.     

Effect of working gap and circumferential speed on the performance of magnetic abrasive finishing process

Magnetic abrasive finishing (MAF) is one of the advanced finishing processes in which workpiece is kept between two magnets, and cutting force is controlled by working gap and magnetic field between the two magnets. MAF setup is designed for finishing cylindrical workpieces and it is mounted on lathe machine. The loosely bounded powder is prepared for experimentation by homogeneous mixing of magnetic powder (Fe powder of 300 mesh size (51.4 μm)), abrasive powder (Al₂O₃ of 600 mesh size (25.7 μm), and lubricant called servospin-12 oil. To investigate the effects of working gap and circumferential speed on material removal, change in surface finish and percent improvement in surface finish, a series of experiments have been conducted using in-house fabricated setup. Based upon the results, in general, material removal decreases by increasing working gap or decreasing circumferential speed of the workpiece. Change in surface finish increases by increasing circumferential speed of the workpiece.     

Design of freeform surface finish using burnishing assistance following electrochemical finishing

This study discusses the performance assessment of the continuous burnishing processes following electrochemical finishing using a design, which incorporates a finish-tool that includes an electrode and a nonconductive burnishing-tool. One can expect to make an effective evaluation on the processing features and set up the complete data for processing parameters. In the future, it is also expected to spread a freeform surface finish instead of the conventional hand or machine polishing. In the experiment, a model toy missile is taken as a workpiece. The electrode is used with the continuous and pulsed direct current application. The burnishing-tool uses ceramic material and is connected with the electrode and axial feed. It was found that the finished effect of the finish-tool with convex features is better than mat of the concave features. Pulsing direct current can slightly improve the effect of electrochemical finishing. High rotational speeds produce a better finish for workpieces. This presents an effective and low-cost finishing process that includes the design of a finish-tool, which uses burnishing assistance, and follows electrochemical finishing after traditional machining makes the freeform surface of a workpiece smooth and bright.     

NANO-FINISHING OF STAINLESS-STEEL TUBES USING ROTATIONAL MAGNETORHEOLOGICAL ABRASIVE FLOW FINISHING PROCESS

A new polishing method called Rotational (R)-Magnetorheological Abrasive Flow Finishing (MRAFF) process has been proposed by rotating a magnetic field applied to the Magnetorheological polishing (MRP) medium in addition to the reciprocating motion provided by the hydraulic unit to finish internal surface of cylindrical stainless steel (non-magnetic) workpiece. By intelligently controlling these two motions uniform smooth mirror-like finished surface in the range of nm has been achieved. For parametric analysis of the process, the experiments have been planned using design of experiments technique and response surface regression analysis is performed to analyze the effects of process parameters on finishing performance. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) is conducted and contribution of each model term affecting percent improvement in surface finish is calculated. The experimental results are discussed and optimum finishing conditions are identified from optimization study. The present study shows that rotational speed of the magnet has most significant effect on output response (percentage improvement in surface roughness, %ΔR _a ). The best surface finish obtained on stainless steel workpiece with R-MRAFF process is 16 nm.     

Modeling and simulation of magnetic abrasive finishing process

Magnetic abrasive finishing (MAF) is one of the advanced finishing processes, which produces a high level of surface quality and is primarily controlled by a magnetic field. In MAF, the workpiece is kept between the two poles of a magnet. The working gap between the workpiece and the magnet is filled with magnetic abrasive particles. A magnetic abrasive flexible brush (MAFB) is formed, acting as a multipoint cutting tool, due to the effect of the magnetic field in the working gap. This paper deals with the theoretical investigations of the MAF process. A finite element model of the process is developed to evaluate the distribution of magnetic forces on the workpiece surface. The MAF process removes a very small amount of material by indentation and rotation of magnetic abrasive particles in the circular tracks. A theoretical model for material removal and surface roughness is also proposed accounting for microcutting by considering a uniform surface profile without statistical distribution. Numerical experiments are carried out by providing different routes of intermittent motion to the tool. The simulation results are verified by comparing them with the experimental results available in the literature.     

Polishing of the aluminum sheets with magnetic abrasive finishing method

Recent needs to superfinished surfaces have motivated researchers to study on modern methods of polishing. Magnetic-assisted finishing is one of those methods which can generate mirror-like finished surfaces. This paper investigates the effects of some parameters, i.e., rotational speed of the permanent magnetic pole, working gap between the permanent pole and the workpiece, number of cycles, and the weight of the abrasive particles on aluminum surface finishing. Three-level full factorial method was used as design of experiments technique to study the selected factors. A total of 54 designed tests were done on aluminum sheet using an innovative material removal mechanism. Analysis of variance was used to determine significant factors and also to obtain an equation based on data regression. Experimental results indicate that the number of cycles and working gap are the most significant parameters on surface roughness change (?Ra), followed by rotational speed and then weight of powder.     

Application of magnetic abrasive polishing to composite materials

Magnetic abrasive polishing (MAP) is an advanced machining process that can produce smoother surfaces in many material types. The present study conducted an experimental assessment of MAP for a newly developed, non-ferrous and aluminum-based composite material. A permanent magnet was installed under the workpiece to enhance its magnetic flux density, which had proved insufficient for effective MAP. The success of the permanent magnet in improving the surface roughness of the non-ferrous material was verified.     

Modeling and simulation of magnetic abrasive finishing process

Magnetic abrasive finishing (MAF) is one of the advanced finishing processes, which produces a high level of surface quality and is primarily controlled by a magnetic field. In MAF, the workpiece is kept between the two poles of a magnet. The working gap between the workpiece and the magnet is filled with magnetic abrasive particles. A magnetic abrasive flexible brush (MAFB) is formed, acting as a multipoint cutting tool, due to the effect of the magnetic field in the working gap. This paper deals with the theoretical investigations of the MAF process. A finite element model of the process is developed to evaluate the distribution of magnetic forces on the workpiece surface. The MAF process removes a very small amount of material by indentation and rotation of magnetic abrasive particles in the circular tracks. A theoretical model for material removal and surface roughness is also proposed accounting for microcutting by considering a uniform surface profile without statistical distribution. Numerical experiments are carried out by providing different routes of intermittent motion to the tool. The simulation results are verified by comparing them with the experimental results available in the literature.     

Nanofinishing of flat workpieces using rotational–magnetorheological abrasive flow finishing (R-MRAFF) process

A new finishing process named as “rotational–magnetorheological abrasive flow finishing (R-MRAFF)” has been proposed to enhance the finishing performance of MRAFF process. In this process, a rotation cum reciprocating motion is provided to the polishing medium by a rotating magnetic field and hydraulic unit. By intelligently controlling these two motions, a uniform smooth mirror-like finished surface with improved material removal rate and finishing rate (nanometer per cycle) is achieved for both stainless steel and brass workpieces. From the preliminary experiments, it is found that R-MRAFF process produces better results than MRAFF. Experiments have been planned using design of experiments technique. Analysis of variance is conducted to find out the contribution of each model term affecting percent improvement in surface finish. The optimum finishing conditions are identified from optimization study. The present study shows that the combinations of rotational speed of the magnet and its square term together have the highest contribution to the percentage improvement in surface roughness. Other significant parameters in the order of decreasing percent contribution to the change in surface roughness value are finishing cycles, extrusion pressure, and fluid composition. The best surface finish obtained on stainless steel and brass workpieces with R-MRAFF process are 110 and 50 nm, respectively. From the scanning electron micrographs and atomic force micrographs, it has been observed that the abrasive cutting marks generate cross-hatch pattern on the surface finished by R-MRAFF process.     

超声波磁流变复合抛光中几种 工艺参数对材料去除率的影响

提出了一种光学抛光的新方法——超声波磁流变复合抛光。介绍了该抛光方法的基本原理和实验装置,进行了超声波磁流变复合抛光实验,采用轮廓仪实测了光学玻璃超声波磁流变抛光材料去除轮廓曲线。通过该项工艺实验,研究了五种工艺参数(磁场强度、超声振幅、抛光工具头与工件的间隙、抛光工具头转速、工件转速)对光学玻璃材料去除率的影响。在一定实验条件下,获得的材料去除率为0.139 μm/min,并获得了超声波磁流变复合抛光工艺参数与材料去除率的关系曲线,得出了光学玻璃超声波磁流变复合抛光的材料去除规律。     

机械轴与虚拟轴复合的磁流变抛光

传统的磁流变抛光工艺采用抛光缎带的固定位置对工件进行法向加工,由于机床转轴的行程限制,工件陡度较高区域不可达,当前基于等效磁场原理的变切触点抛光方法存在着等效磁场实现成本高,没有充分发挥机械轴与虚拟轴相结合的抛光能力等问题。本文针对这些问题提出了一种用于加工高陡度曲面元件的方法,分析了保证去除函数稳定的磁场特点,通过磁场测量实验验证了磁场的稳定范围,通过采斑实验确定了去除函数稳定的虚拟轴范围为±12°,提出了将虚拟轴与机械轴复合使用的加工方法,并基于刚体变换实现了该加工方法下的坐标解算。最后,通过增加倾角的球面件抛光实验,将球面元件95%口径的PV值收敛为0.096λ,RMS值收敛为0.012λ,实验结果表明虚拟轴和机械轴复合抛光方法具有针对高陡度曲面的修形能力。     

MAGNETIC FIELD ANALYSIS AND ROUGHNESS PREDICTION IN MAGNETORHEOLOGICAL ABRASIVE HONING (MRAH)

Magnetorheological Abrasive Honing (MRAH) is a recently developed process to finish engineering surfaces. The process makes use of a magnetically stiffened abrasive-mixed magnetorheological fluid as the flexible tool and rotation-cum-reciprocation movements between the finishing medium and the workpiece surface for providing finishing action. In the present work, a finite element analysis with Mechanical/Emag module of ANSYS is performed to understand the nature of magnetic field developed in the process and verification is done with actual measurements. Considering the simulated magnetic field, a model to predict final roughness value (R _a ) is developed. The model, when applied for different work materials and various process parameters, such as magnetic flux density, process duration and workpiece rotation, yields results that are in good agreement with experimental results.     

Enhanced magnetic abrasive finishing of Ti–6Al–4V using shear thickening fluids additives

The available magnetic field assisted finishing process is considered as the critical stage for improvement of workpiece surface quality. This paper aims to investigate the key quality performance of an enhanced magnetic abrasive finishing in achieving nanolevel finish on Ti–6Al–4V workpieces with initial micrometer surface roughness values. The finishing media, combining the intelligent shear thickening fluids (STFs), carbonyl iron particles and SiC particles, is developed. Finishing experiments for Ti–6Al–4V workpieces are conducted using an established platform, aiming to investigate the effects of varying STFs concentration, working gap, feed rate and spindle rotational speed. It is observed from the experimental results that the developed finishing media is effective for surface finishing comparing to the finishing media without STFs. The surface roughness of 54 nm was achieved from the initial value of 1.17 μm, which improved by over 95%, under the experimental conditions of 0.8 mm working gap, 15000 mm/min feed rate, 900 rpm spindle rotational speed and 15 wt% STFs. Surface observations showed that a smooth surface without obvious scratches was obtained.     

Nanofinishing of freeform surfaces (knee joint implant) by rotational-magnetorheological abrasive flow finishing (R-MRAFF) process

Freeform complex surfaces have become an inevitable part of many devices to perform specific functions. Some of these components require nanolevel surface roughness value to meet the desired requirements in their applications. Finishing of freeform surfaces to nanometer surface roughness value is always difficult for any process. Rotational-magnetorheological abrasive flow finishing (R-MRAFF) process has been applied so far for finishing internal surfaces of relatively simple geometry. In this work, an attempt has been made to improve external topography of freeform surfaces using this process. Large hydrodynamic pressure coupled with magnetic fluid is the principal idea behind these experiments. A smooth mirror like finished surface is achieved with improved finishing rate (nanometer/min) by controlling two motions (axial and rotational) simultaneously on stainless steel workpiece similar to knee joint implant. Magnetorheological polishing fluid with different mesh sizes of abrasive particles and at different extrusion pressures is used to reduce final surface roughness value, to increase uniformity of surface finish on the freeform surface and to enhance finishing rate. Surface roughness ranging from 35 to 78 nm is achieved at various locations as compared to larger variation in Ra value obtained in the earlier research work.     

Experimental investigations into forces acting during a magnetic abrasive finishing process

A magnetic abrasive finishing (MAF) process is the one in which material is removed in such a way that surface finishing and deburring are performed simultaneously with the applied magnetic field in the finishing zone. Knowledge of forces acting during MAF is important to understand the mechanism of material removal. Forces have direct influence on the generation of a finished surface and accuracy of the workpiece. This paper reports the experimental findings about the forces acting during MAF and provides correlation between the surface finish and the forces. The resistance type force transducer (ring dynamometer) has been designed and fabricated. It is used to measure the normal magnetic force component responsible for microindentation into the workpiece and tangential cutting force component producing microchips. The force data have been recorded on-line by making use of virtual instruments (using Lab-View software). It is concluded that forces and change in surface roughness (ΔRa) increase with increase in current to the electromagnet (or magnetic flux density) and decrease in the working gap.On deputation from M.M.M.Engg. College, Gorakhpur (UP) India     

Temperature distribution in the workpiece due to plane magnetic abrasive finishing using FEM

A mathematical model is developed for the prediction of magnetic potential using Maxwell’s equations and finite element method is used to find the magnetic potential distribution within the gap between tool bottom surface and workpiece top surface. From magnetic potential model, the magnetic pressure developed and corresponding heat flux generated on workpiece surface are evaluated. Further a mathematical model is developed for heat transfer in the workpiece and again finite element method is used for the prediction of temperature rise in the workpiece. The effects of various operating input parameter on magnetic potential distribution in the gap and temperature rise in the workpiece has been studied.     

通用永磁研磨极头的研制

在永磁极头磁场的控制技术研究的基础上，研制的通用永磁极头使磁力研磨加工区域磁场大小及梯度达到了技术要求，降低了成本，易维护，适应性和互换性好，有利于磁力研磨加工新技术的推广应用，具有实用的工程价值。