Study on the characteristics of Magneto-Electrolytic-Abrasive Polishing by using the newly developed nonwoven-abrasive pads

Abstract

Recently, advanced technologies in general industry demand that the production of precision parts is much more precise and efficient. However, most of the precision finishing technologies cannot satisfy both the finishing efficiency and surface finishing at the same time. Magneto-Electrolytic-Abrasive Polishing (MEAP) is a new ultra precision machining technology, which combined many kinds of energy, has been deeply investigated under this urgent demand and its effect has been much improved. The method of MEAP for those difficult-to-cut materials has become an important technique in the precision machining field. In particular, the nonwoven abrasive pad, which is a kind efficient matching polishing material used in MEAP system, has been developed. Because nonwoven abrasive pads can cut off the oxide membrane which appears during electrolytic polishing process without time delay and there are no scratches left on workpiece surface, it has been proved that it is a high efficiency and economic polishing material. In this study, the basic properties of nonwoven abrasive pads have been explained and the developed processes for SiC and Al 2O 3 nonwoven abrasive pads have also been described. Their polishing abilities on difficult-to-cut materials of Cr-coated rollers have been tested according to different kinds of pad. Through using the life test experiment, their economic benefits in Magneto-Electrolytic-Abrasive Polishing systems will be discussed.