Abrasive Machining and Finishing Operations Abrasive Machining

 

Abrasive machining is one of the best methods for producing accuracy and fine finishing on parts. An abrasive machine used high technology and expensive, but the abrasive machine produced a small, hard particle having sharp edges and an irregular shape. This concept of material removal is unlike the cutting tools described earlier. Abrasives can remove lesser amounts of material from a surface through a cutting process that produces tiny chips. The concept of tooling operations is same as a normal typical of grinding machine. 

With the use of computer-controlled machines, abrasive processes now are capable of producing (a) a wide variety of workpiece geometries, (b) exceptionally fine dimensional accuracy, and surface finishes. 

The types of operation on workpieces are: (a) cylindrical surfaces, (b) conical surfaces, (c) fillets on a shaft, (d) helical profiles, (e) concave shape, (f) cutting off or slotting with thin wheels, and (g) internal grinding. 

Because tooling of the abrasive machine is hard, it can be used in finishing processes for heat-treated metals and alloys and for very hard parts in applications such as (a) finishing of ceramics and glasses, (b) cutting off lengths of bars, structural shapes, masonry, and concrete, (c) removing unwanted weld beads and spatter, and (d) cleaning surfaces with jets of air or water containing abrasive particles. 

Bonded Abrasives 

The technology bonded abrasive famous are. 

1. Aluminum oxide: Bonded with Carbon steels, ferrous alloys, and alloy steels. 

2. Seeded gel: First introduced in 1987 and is the purest form of unfused aluminum oxide. The seeded gel also known as ceramic aluminum oxide. It has a grain of 0.2 microns, which is smaller than other types of commonly used abrasive grains.  

3. Silicon carbide: Nonferrous metals, cast irons, carbides, ceramics, glass, and marble. 

4, Cubic boron nitride: Steels and cast irons above 50 HRC hardness and high-temperature alloys. 

5. Diamond: Ceramics, cemented carbides, and some hardened steels. 

Even though the abrasive machining process is expensive since tool material and the machine itself expensive include the operator with high skills and demand higher pay but the quality of surface finish and the capability of hard and valuable material remover thus we cannot avoid this abrasive machining process.