Morphology and integrity of surfaces finished by centrifugal force assisted abrasive flow machining

摘要

Centrifugal force assisted abrasive flow machining (CFAAFM) process has recently been tried as a hybrid machining process with the aim towards performance improvement of assisted abrasive flow machining (AFM) process by applying centrifugal force on the abrasive-laden media with a rotating centrifugal force generating (CFG) rod introduced in the workpiece passage. In the CFAAFM process, the surfaces are generated by erosion from random attack of abrasive grains. CFAAFMed surfaces are unidirectional but random in nature due to transient media flow conditions. In the present paper, surface morphology, surface micro-hardness, X-ray analysis, and surface compressive residual stress produced in the finished surface layer by CFAAFM process is described. The CFAAFM process was performed under different rotational speeds of CFG rod while keeping other input parameters constant during the experiments. The increase in surface microhardness and compressive residual stress of the workpiece with an increase in the rotational speed of CFG rod is attributed to the work-hardening surface that possibly occurs due to ‘throw’ of abrasive particles upon specimen surface.