Determining kinetic energy distribution of the working medium in a centrifugal disc finishing process\u2014part 2: experimental analysis with the use of acoustic emission signal

Abstract

This paper addresses the problem of estimating the kinetic energy distribution of the working medium in a centrifugal disc finishing process. Centrifugal disc finishing is a highly effective way of finishing surfaces, especially in the case of complex shapes, made from a variety of materials. The process is, however, frequently very time-consuming. The identification method of a region with a high kinetic energy potential by measurement of acoustic emission signal is described and verified by surface roughness tests. Signal analysis was carried out in both time and frequency domain. The results presented in experimental tests and analyses indicate that various parameters of the AE signal, including its energy, are variable and determined by abrasive particles’ velocity and location in an axial cross section of the working medium. On the basis of the root mean square value of the signal, the maps of the distribution of the energy potential of the working medium are presented. Experimental results demonstrate process improvement and a significant reduction (approx 60%) of the arithmetic mean deviation of surface roughness, obtained at the same time of machining. The article also presents the functional relations between the selected AE signal descriptors and the rotational speed of the working chamber rotor. Since the article is a continuation of the previous studies, the results obtained were briefly referred to the simulation results.