Experimental investigation of high frequency media finishing process

• Main Author: Vigneashwara Pandiyan S
• Other Authors: Castagne Sylvie Jeanne Constance
• Format: Theses and Dissertations
• Language: English
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Manufacturing
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/76188
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Media finishing processes comprise a group of secondary manufacturing operations. Most media finishing processes involve bulk processing of metallic parts in a recirculating flow of loose, bonded media to modify the surface properties of a work piece through abrasive contact. The amount of material removed during finishing is generally small and typically micrograms per part in the case of polishing and grams for deburring and edge finishing. Industrial interest in optimizing media finishing processes has greatly augmented in recent years. An experimental investigation into the vibratory media finishing process was accomplished by increasing the input frequency imparted on vibratory bowl and decreasing surface roughness (Ra) of an aluminium AA6061-T6 work piece as the dependent variable. Bowl performance can best be portrayed in terms of surface roughness (Ra) with respect to lead time. A video system was used to trace the motion of the finishing media in different frequency and amplitude combinations. Results from videotaped observation revealed that increasing the frequency in the range of 50 Hz to 100 Hz increased the velocity of the media particles. The effect of frequency on the surface evolution and process time was studied with scanning electron microscopic images gathered at different time intervals at different frequencies. Surface measurements were made using Taly-scan profilometer to determine the level of surface roughness (Ra). On the basis of these experimental results increasing the frequency offers the potential for shorter processing time to reach surface roughness (Ra) of 0.4 µm.