Magnetic Abrasive Flow Machining For Super Surface Finishing

Abstract

Now a days, need of compact and efficient design of any product with good strength has increased. This requires hard materials like carbide and ceramics for achieving better service life. Conventional machining processes when applied to these newer materials are uneconomical, produce poor degree of surface finish and accuracy, and produce some stresses, highly insufficient. It is impossible to achieve good and desired surface finish in compact, complex, intricate shapes, profiles, curved splines etc., where conventional machine tool faces difficulties during machining and consumes much time. It experiences same problem with micro/ nano finishing like small size diameters used in fuel injectors etc. Abrasive flow machining (AFM) is relatively new process among non-conventional machining processes. Low material removal rate happens to be one serious limitation of almost all processes. Magneto abrasive flow machining is a new development in AFM. With the use of uniform magnetic field around the work piece in abrasive flow machining, we can increase the material removal rate as well as the surface finish.