A STUDY OF PROCESS CHAIN MODELLING AND ANALYSIS FOR COMPUTER CONTROLLED ULTRA-PRECISION POLISHING OF STRUCTURED FREEFORM SURFACES

摘要

This paper presents a study of process chain modelling and analysis for computer controlled ultra-precision polishing of structured freeform surfaces. This includes a study of the effect of different machining process steps on the surface generation in CCUP. A prototype process chain modeling and optimization system is established to analyze the effect of the design of process chain of machining processes on the surface generation in CCUP. Preliminary experimental work is undertaken to validate the system performance. The results show that the structured surface generation in succeeding polishing process step is affected by the residual surface topography in preceding polishing process step. There exists an optimum polishing condition at which the effect of residual surface generated in pre-polishing process is minimized in structured surface generation by CCUP. The findings not only provide an important means for better understanding of theory and science of the effect on surface generation due to design and planning of the polishing processes but also allow the determination of optimum polishing conditions for structured surface generation in CCUP.