Fluid flow analysis of magnetorheological abrasive flow finishing (MRAFF) process

A new precision finishing process called magnetorheological abrasive flow finishing (MRAFF), which is basically a combination of abrasive flow machining (AFM) and magnetorheological finishing (MRF), has been developed for nano-finishing of parts even with complicated geometry for a wide range of industrial applications. This paper deals with the theoretical investigations into the mechanism of MRAFF process to study the effects of various process parameters. In the present work, an attempt has been made to analyze the medium flow through the fixture by finite difference method by assuming the medium as Bingham plastic to evaluate the stresses developed during the process. A capillary viscometer has been designed and fabricated to study the effect of magnetic field on the rheological properties of the medium. Microstructure of the mixture of ferromagnetic and abrasive particles in magnetorheological polishing fluid (MRPF) has been proposed, and normal force on the abrasive particles is calculated from the applied magnetic field. A model for the prediction of material removal and surface roughness has also been presented. Theoretical results compare well with the experimental data available in the literature.     

Design and development of the magnetorheological abrasive flow finishing (MRAFF) process

A new precision finishing process for complex internal geometries using smart magnetorheological polishing fluid is developed. Magnetorheological abrasive flow finishing (MRAFF) process provides better control over rheological properties of abrasive laden magnetorheological finishing medium. Magnetorheological (MR) polishing fluid comprises of carbonyl iron powder and silicon carbide abrasives dispersed in the viscoplastic base of grease and mineral oil; it exhibits change in rheological behaviour in presence of external magnetic field. This smart behaviour of MR-polishing fluid is utilized to precisely control the finishing forces, hence final surface finish. A hydraulically powered experimental setup is designed to study the process characteristics and performance. The setup consists of two MR-polishing fluid cylinders, two hydraulic actuators, electromagnet, fixture and supporting frame. Experiments were conducted on stainless steel workpieces at different magnetic field strength to observe its effect on final surface finish. No measurable change in surface roughness is observed after finishing at zero magnetic field. However, for the same number of cycles the roughness reduces gradually with the increase of magnetic field. This validates the role of rheological behaviour of magnetorheological polishing fluid in performing finishing action.     

Rheological characterization of styrene-butadiene based medium and its finishing performance using rotational abrasive flow finishing process

Finishing of complex shaped components needs advanced finishing processes to produce nano level surface finish. Abrasive flow finishing (AFF) process uses abrasive mixed polymer as a medium to finish complex shapes. The medium should possess three basic properties i.e., better flow ability, self deformability and abrading ability to finish the given surface to nano scale. Various flow and deformation properties of the medium can be investigated by rheological characterization. In the present work, different media are made using specially co-polymered soft styrene butadiene based polymer, plasticizer and abrasives. Static and dynamic rheological properties of these in-house prepared media are evaluated, and it is found that these media follow viscoelastic behavior with shear thinning nature. For a small rise in temperature, the medium starts losing its original properties.In the present work, static (flow test, creep compliance test, stress relaxation test) and dynamic (amplitude sweep and frequency sweep) rheological properties are measured. Finishing experiments are carried out on Al alloy as well as its metal matrix composites using rotational abrasive flow finishing (R-AFF) process. Later, the effect of each rheological parameter such as shear stress, % viscous component, stress relaxation modulus and storage modulus on the change in average surface roughness (ΔR_a) and material removal rate during R-AFF is found.     

Simulation for the prediction of surface roughness in magnetic abrasive flow finishing (MAFF)

The final machining (or finishing) of precision parts with high level of surface finish and close tolerance is making the application of magnetic abrasive finishing technology increasingly important. Magnetic abrasive flow finishing (MAFF) is a new abrasive finishing process combining the features of abrasive flow finishing (AFF) and magnetic abrasive finishing (MAF). MAFF provides a high level of surface finish and close tolerances for wide range of industrial application. This paper focuses on the modeling and simulation for the prediction of surface roughness on the workpiece surface finished by MAFF process. A finite element model is developed to find the magnetic potential distribution in the magnetic abrasive brush formed during finishing action and then it is used to evaluate machining pressure, surface finish and material removal. The simulation results are compared with the experimental results available in the literature. The simulated workpiece surface roughness shows features similar in nature to the experimental results.     

Study on the inner surface finishing of tubing by magnetic abrasive finishing

With the development of industry manufacturing technology, fine surface finish is in high demand in a wide spectrum of industrial applications. Presently, it is required that the parts used in manufacturing semiconductors, atomic energy parts, medical instruments and aerospace components have a very precise surface roughness. Amongst them, vacuum tubes, wave guides and sanitary tubes are difficult to polish by conventional finishing methods such as lapping, because of their shapes. The surface roughness of these tubes affects the performance of the entire system, but the finishing technology for these tubes is very scant in manufacturing fields. This project was proposed by a Shanghai Far East pharmaceutial and mechanical factory. They stated that the roughness of the inner surface must be less than 0.3 μm Ra after finishing. An internal magnetic abrasive finishing (MAF) process is proposed for producing highly finished inner surfaces of tubes used in this study. The process principle and the finishing characteristics of unbounded magnetic abrasive within internal tubing finishing are described first. MAF setup was designed for finishing three kinds of materials tubing, such as Ly12 aluminum alloy, 316L stainless steel and H62 brass. Experimental results indicated that finishing parameters such as polishing speed, magnetic abrasive supply, abrasive material, magnetic abrasive manufacturing process and grain size have critical effects on the material removal rate (MRR). How the inner surface micro shape changes course during finishing of an aluminous tube is demonstrated.     

曲面磁性研磨加工的表面粗糙度特性研究

针对大型模具曲面精整加工问题,探讨采用磁性研磨加工模具曲面的工艺.根据磁性研磨加工原理,基于数控铣床研制了磁性研磨实验装置,对曲面的磁性研磨加工进行了实验研究.采用工具旋转的磁性研磨加工方式,磁性磨料受到磁场约束力和离心力的作用,成为影响加工过程正反两方面的因素.经过对磁性研磨加工过程中加工区域的磁感应强度、加工间隙、磁极工具转速及加工次数等参数对曲面工件表面粗糙度影响规律的研究,得到了曲面磁性研磨加工过程优化参数.     

Modeling of material removal and surface roughness in abrasive flow machining process

Abrasive flow machining process provides a high level of surface finish and close tolerances with an economically acceptable rate of surface generation for a wide range of industrial components. This paper deals with the theoretical investigations into the mechanism of abrasive flow machining (AFM) process. A finite element model is developed for the flow of media during AFM and the same is used to evaluate the stresses and forces developed during the process. Theoretical analysis to estimate the material removal and surface roughness obtained during AFM is also proposed. The theoretical results are compared with the experimental data available in the literature, and they are found to agree well.     

Modelling and analysis of abrasive water jet cut surface topography

In this paper, a new approach proposed for modelling the three-dimensional (3D) topography produced on abrasive water jet (AWJ) cut surface is presented. It makes use of the trajectory of jet, predicted from the theory of ballistics and Bitter’s theory of erosion for material removal, for numerically simulating the cutting front. The 2D topography at different depths of the cut surface is generated by considering the trajectories on the cutting front and the abrasive particles impacting the walls of cut surface randomly. For realistic generation of topography on cut surfaces, several instantaneous profiles generated in each region of cut are superimposed to obtain an effective profile. The nature of effective profiles thus predicted is analyzed and validated using power spectral density analysis. The effective profiles predicted at different depths are in turn used to generate the 3D topography of AWJ cut surface. Results obtained with the proposed model are validated with the experimental results.     

K9玻璃磁性研磨抛光表面粗糙度试验研究

针对K9光学玻璃研磨抛光过程中存在的问题,将磁性研磨加工方法应用在光学玻璃的研磨抛光上。试验表明,K9玻璃的表面粗糙度值Ra由原来的90nm左右下降到40nm左右。为进一步研究磁性研磨试验的4个因素,设计了正交试验,最终得出各个因素对于工件表面粗糙度影响的主次顺序,并确定其最优组合为:磁极转速2300r/min,加工间隙1.5mm,磁感应强度0.4T,进给速度200mm/min。     

Vita Mark Ⅱ齿科陶瓷体外口腔修复磨削表面粗糙度研究

对利用牙科手机进行体外口腔修复过程中,影响VitaMark殷玲齿科陶瓷修复后表面粗糙度的主要因素,进行了分析,确定口腔修复参数对表面粗糙度影响的主次关系。采用正交试验设计的方法进行试验设计,并用直观分析和方差分析两种方法进行数据分析。结果表明：口腔修复深度对粗糙度算术平均偏差Ra值有非常显著的影响,车针进给速度对其无显著影响。结论：口腔修复深度为40μm、车针进给速度为30mm／min时,粗糙度算术平均偏差Ra值最低。     

砂轮约束磨粒喷射精密光整加工工艺特性研究

研究了砂轮约束磨粒喷射精密光整加工工艺特性，分析了磨粒尺寸、磨料流体浓度、加工循环、砂轮速度、携带流体对加工表面质量的影响。利用平面磨床M7120对Q235A进行喷射加工实验，用TALYSURF轮廓仪测量加工后的微观几何参数值，用扫描电镜和金相显微镜观察表面微观形貌。实验结果表明，选用质量分数10％W7Al2O3微粉与防锈润滑液进行喷射加工20～30循环，不仅保持或获得高的表面肜状精度，而且又可高效的获得具有粗糙度Ra0．15～1．6μm的无缺陷加工表面，明显去除磨削加工过度塑性变形，减少表面层污染和磨削烧伤，实现高效、高精度、低粗糙度，并且磨削和抛光可以集成的表面精密光整加工新方法。     

Effects of abrasive tools on surface finishing under brittle-ductile grinding regimes when manufacturing glass

This paper addresses the effects of bonds and grains of abrasive tools on the edge aspect of ground glass surface. Diamond grains and silicon carbide (SiC) grains combined with two bond types, i.e., resin and metal, were considered for this study. The surface edge characteristics were characterized using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and interferometer observations. In particular, the spectrum of arithmetic mean was investigated for distinguishing the different scales of analysis. Experimental results showed that the grinding forces vary sensitively with bond type and wheel velocity. Using diamond grains’ wheel, it was found that roughness level obtained with metallic bond is lower than that obtained with resin bond. However, using a resin-bonded wheel, two mechanisms of material removal were revealed according to grains’ type. (i) A partial ductile regime, i.e., ductile streaks and brittle fracture, obtained with diamond grains, and (ii) a fully ductile regime obtained with SiC grains. Thus, it was found that ground surface obtained using SiC grains’ wheel has a better roughness than that obtained using diamond grains wheel. Besides, SiC grains seem to lead to more marked streaks and form defects.     

Modelling the abrasive flow machining process on advanced ceramic materials

Abrasive flow machining (AFM) is a unique machining method used to achieve high surface quality on inner, difficult-to-access and on outside contours. Using AFM, it is possible to realise predefined edge rounding on any brittle or hard material. AFM is easy to integrate in an automated manufacturing environment. The abrasive medium applied during AFM is a fluid consisting of a polymer which carries silicon carbide or super-abrasive grains. With a specified pressure and temperature, this fluid flows in alternating directions along the contours of the workpiece resulting in an abrasive effect. AFM is also well suited to process advanced ceramic materials. Especially advanced ceramics are playing increasingly a significant role as a substitute for metals. However the high costs for the inevitable finishing process on ceramics prevent a more frequent use. This paper represents the technological results of a research-project discovering the fundamental principles of AFM on advanced ceramic materials such as a correlation between flow processes, surface formation and edge rounding. Furthermore an insight into a process model is given, which was developed using modern simulation techniques. The overall objective of this approach is to anticipate work results like surface quality and edge rounding on any user-defined geometry.     

Modelling and optimisation of magnetic abrasive finishing process based on a non-orthogonal array with ANN-GA approach

ABSTRACT

Magnetic abrasive finishing (MAF) is an advanced precise finishing method that achieves micro-level to nano-level surface roughness. In industries, MAF is highly recommended where zero or negligible post-process surface defects are an obligatory requirement. In the same context, process optimisation is essential for making it commercially viable. This study presents an artificial neural network and genetic algorithm (ANN-GA), a robust modelling and optimisation tool (applicable to any sort of data set orthogonal array design or non-orthogonal array design) that is applied to scrutinise and improve the performance of the magnetic abrasive finishing of stainless steel SS302. In addition, the results from ANN-GA modelling and optimisation have been compared with conclusions drawn from conventionally used Taguchi-ANOVA analysis. An L₂₇ non-orthogonal array design has been opted for as per machining set-up restriction. Abrasive size, voltage, machining gap, and rotational speed were the design variables considered in the present research work. It was found that the parametric design used in this study provides a straightforward, methodical, and proficient method of modelling and optimisation of change of surface roughness or finishing behaviour during the MAF process. Modelling and optimisation done with ANN-GA show a maximum value of (ΔR _a)_max equal to 0.256?µm, which is 7% better than the result obtained from Taguchi-ANOVA analysis.     

HR-2钢精密零件表面磁力研磨磨粒加工机理研究

磁性研磨是一种利用磁场中的磁性磨料对具有相对运动的工件表面进行光整加工的新技术。本文对磁性磨粒的加工机理进行了分析，对奥氏体不锈钢精密薄壁零件表面进行了磁性研磨工艺试验。通过试验找出了磁性原料：铝镍钴（AlNiCo）；磁性磨料粒度：60^#-70^#；在工件转速、磁感应强度、研磨时间等工艺参数为定值时，加工的奥氏体不锈钢精密薄壁零件的表面粗糙度达到了Ra0．1μm的要求。     

Experimental investigations into abrasive flow machining (AFM)

A new non-traditional finishing process known as abrasive flow machining (AFM) is used to deburr, radius, polish and remove recast layer of components in a wide range of applications. The process is relatively new, although around 2000 machines are in use worldwide. Material is removed from the workpiece by flowing a semisolid visco-elastic/visco-plastic abrasive-laden medium across the surface to be finished. Areas inaccessible to traditional methods, and complex passages, can be finished to high quality by this process. The process embraces a wide range of feasible applications including aerospace, dies and moulds, automotive parts, medical components, etc.In the present work, the effects of different process parameters, such as number of cycles, concentration of abrasive, abrasive mesh size and media flow speed, on material removal and surface finish are studied. The dominant process parameter found is concentration of abrasive, followed by abrasive mesh size, number of cycles, and media flow speed. Experiments are performed with brass and aluminum as work materials. Experimental and theoretical results are compared. The machined surface texture is studied using scanning electron microscopy.     

Specific energy and temperature determination in abrasive flow machining process

A model has been proposed for the determination of specific energy and tangential forces in abrasive flow machining (AFM) process. It accounts for the process parameters of AFM e.g., grain size, applied pressure, hardness of workpiece material, number of cycles and number of active grains. Heat transfer in AFM has also been analysed considering heat flow to the workpiece and medium, and theoretical results compared with experimentally observed values of workpiece temperatures. The dependence of the workpiece temperature on the AFM parameters has been discussed. The model also predicts the fraction of heat entering into the workpiece and medium.     

基于磁力研磨技术的模具精加工自动化的应用研究

针对模具精加工自动化的问题进行了深入探讨,提出了基于磁力研磨技术和数字化仿形的模具精加工自动化的技术路线.利用磁力研磨的柔性、自适应性、加工的精度高等技术特点解决了传统刚性刀具难于加工三维复杂曲面的难题;由于模具型面的不规则性,给数控程序的编制带来了极大的困难,利用自己开发研制的集测量、仿形、加工代码的生成为一体的磁粒研磨机床很好地解决了这一难题;由于测量和加工在同一机床,避免了工件的重复装卡和重复定位;磁极与工件之间的加工间隙靠测头与磁极半径的差值来保证;同时对该方案所涉及的一些关键技术进行了研究,并给出解决措施.通过实验验证,利用磁力研磨技术和数字化仿形是解决模具精加工完全自动化的有效方法之一.     

Feature-based characterisation of surface topography and its application

This keynote paper gives an overview of emerging technologies of feature-based characterisation, for surface topographies having features. It is complementary to conventional surface characterisation using texture field parameters. An original concept, the feature spectrum is proposed to organise surfaces, in order to help select the appropriate characterisation for different types of surface topographies and to achieve a more direct relationship between characterisation, manufacturing process and surface function. The keynote paper focuses on fundamentals and the state of the art for feature-based characterisation technologies. Applications of feature-based characterisation are illustrated and discussed. Guidelines for future industrial applications are laid out, and considerations for future challenges are addressed.Surfaces, Micro structure, Feature-based Characterisation.