Table Of ContentKey Engineering Materials 373-374 (2008) pp 824-827
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Study on the Polishing Characteristics of the Magnetic Abrasives
Finishing to the Slender Pipe
Y. Chen 1.a, F.Yan 1.b and C.Q. Zhu1
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Science and Technology Liaoning,
114051, China
[email protected], [email protected]
Keywords: Magnetic abrasive finishing, Magnetic flux, Magnetic abrasive particles and Slender pipe
Abstract. Polishing the inner surface of slender pipe is very difficult. Because a usual tool cannot into
the inner surface of the slender pipe, and automation do not achieved easily; the eye is unable to see,
even if handmade is also very difficult. Utilize the characteristic of the magnetic force line may
penetrate the non-magnetic material, may using the magnetic abrasive finishing (MAF) method
complete to the inner surface of the slender pipe precise polishing is a preferable method and already
obtained the good processing effect through the experiment. Therefore, this paper analysis and
explanation the finishing principle and experiment device as well as collocation position of magnetic
poles etc best experimental condition.
Introduction
Recent years, high precision pipe appeared in medical instrument, astronautics industry and so on.
Because transporting mediums is the high-purity gas or the liquid, the lower roughness is requested in
internal surface for guaranteed the transportation unobstructed, avoids the pollution and the corrosion,
and enhances the duct service lifetime. Because of the placed environment limit, very many ducts are
slender pipe, use the ordinary tool is very difficult to machining, even by the handwork is difficult to
complete too.
The magnetic abrasive finishing may is a preferable solves method to polishing inner surface of
slender pipe for the fact mentioned above. The magnetic abrasive finishing is a method that the
magnetic field (magnetic force lines) is used to precise polishing the surface of the workpiece. When
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Key Engineering Materials 373-374 825
the workpiece is inserted between N-S magnetic poles, and the magnetic abrasive particles are filled
into the inner of the workpiece, because of effect of the magnetism, the magnetic abrasive particles
become a hard magnetic brush along the magnetic force lines (magnetization is generated). When the
relative movement between the workpiece and magnetic poles is given, the magnetic brush will press
and polish the inner surface of the workpiece (fig. 1 show).
The shape of magnetic brush be changed along with the workpiece shape change, not accepting
surface shape of the workpiece restricting, have very good flexibility. Another, because the magnetic
force lines penetrate nonmagnetic workpiece just like X-ray penetrate objects, therefore, magnetic
abrasive particles may to enter the arbitrary shape inner surface which the ordinary cutting tool is
unable to enter. Through changes exterior magnet pole position change the direction of magnetic
force line for control the magnetic abrasive particles according to the stipulation track polishing inner
surface of the workpiece.
Polish device of nonmagnetic material workpiece
When the workpiece is nonmagnetic material, the workpiece cannot be magnetizing in the magnetic
field. Figure 2(a) show, form a magnetic field by the two magnetic poles on the side of the workpiece,
put the strong magnetic abrasive particles (abrasive particles on the surface of the magnetic particles)
into the inner of the slender pipe that placed in this magnetic field. Utilize the characteristic of
magnetic force line can pierce the nonmagnetic material, the magnetic abrasive particles accepts
effects of the centrifugal force, magnetic force and the friction, that show itself turn, separate,
recombine and distortion phenomenon, stimulated the magnetic abrasive particles cutting edge
metabolism, thus precision polishing to the inner surface of the nonmagnetic pipe. Even if the surface
of the workpiece appears concave-convex or free curved surface, these surfaces been polished too.
Toward biggish caliber workpiece, because the spacing is bigger between the two magnetic poles,
the magnetic field intensity being reduces; magnetic force be accepted by magnetism abrasive
particles are less, polishing efficiency no highly. For this problem, figure 2(b) show, may add a pair of
magnetic pole in the inside of the pipe. The internal magnetic pole and the external magnetic pole
mate forming the new magnetic field, not only decrease magnetic pole spacing, have changed
direction of magnetic lines and enhancing the magnetic force. On the other hand, cutting notch in the
826 Surface Engineering
magnetic pole, can the restraint magnetism abrasive particles disperse to the outside, concentrates
polishing force and improves grinding efficiency too.
Polish device of magnetic material workpiece
When workpiece is magnetic materials, workpiece is become new magnetism pole in the magnetic
field by magnetization. External magnetic force lines are shielded by outside surface of the
workpiece, magnetic force unable enters to inside of workpiece(fig. 3a show). Therefore, magnetic
abrasive particles cannot accept magnetic force in the inner of the pipe, also cannot accomplish
polishing processing to the inner surface of the workpiece. Therefore, setting internal magnetic pole
mode is a necessary method(fig. 3b show).
The magnetic abrasive finishing need about 2-3 mm space between the magnetic pole and the
workpiece for magnetic abrasive particles rolls in the inner of the workpiece. If the workpiece
aperture is a small size, example is 8 mm, well then, the magnetic pole diameter must is only 3 mm.
When inserted the magnetic pole in the inner of workpiece, if only has an eccentricity slightly, the
magnetic pole be attached to one side of the magnetized workpiece, which is unable to polishing
processing. Therefore, with regard to small diameter slender pipe of the magnetic materials
workpiece, magnetic abrasive finishing always a forbidden area, become the problem being difficult
to solve.
Key Engineering Materials 373-374 827
To this problem, lays a stainless steel axis, which being smaller diameter than the workpiece in the
inner of the workpiece and fixes the both ends, slotting and inserting permanent magnet in the centre
of the stainless steel axis. Figure 4 shows, because the inner walls of the workpiece is magnetized
become a new magnetic pole, that workpiece rotates and the magnetic pole displacement (along the
axes direction), as a result of the centrifugal force and the magnetic force as well as the friction effect,
magnetic abrasive particles polishing the inner surface of the workpiece. Processing result be showed
by figure 5.
Summary
The magnetic abrasive finishing is a new processing technology, because the finishing tool is tiny
magnetic abrasive particles, have good flexibility, do not accept restricting of the workpiece form, can
into the workpiece’s arbitrarily location and control easy etc merit.
1. When polishing the inner surface of the nonmagnetic materials workpiece, even if be
complicated form, the magnetic pole may place at the outside of the workpiece, throws the magnetic
abrasive particles into inner of the workpiece. Because of the magnetic force function, the magnetic
abrasive particles attached to the inner surface of the workpiece; when workpiece rotates, the
magnetic abrasive particles precision finishing and eliminate the burr thoroughly to the inner surface
of the workpiece.
2. When polishing the inner surface of the magnetic materials workpiece, the magnetic pole places
at workpiece inside, form a closed magnetic lines circuit between magnetic pole and magnetized
workpiece. When workpiece rotates and the magnetic pole makes the axial translation, magnetic
abrasive particles precision finishing and eliminate the burr thoroughly to workpiece’s inner surface.
3. Finish to the inner surface of the slender pipe is a difficult problem. Utilize magnetic abrasive
finishing method can make such similar problem get solving.
4. When workpiece is thin-wall or bad rigidity, that is easy deformation in the strong magnetic field,
which affects the processing quality. Therefore, must prudent choose the experimental condition and
reasonableness design the device.
Acknowledgement
The work described in this paper was supported by Anshan science and technology research fund.
(Subject number: 2007SF13)
References
[1] Y. Chen: J. Iron Steel Res Vol. 6 (2002), p. 24
[2] T.Shinmura and H. Yamaguchi: J. Jpn. Soc. Abrasive Technol Vol. 4 (2000), p. 36
[3] Y. Chen and Y.D. Gong: J. Mater Technol Vol. 20 (2004), p. 117
[4] Y. Chen and D. Y. Ju: CAID & CD, Holand, 2005, p. 47
[5] Y. Chen: Mould Manufacture Vol. 7 (2004), p. 61
[6] Y. Chen and D. Y. Ju: Machinery, Vol. 4 (2005), p. 56
[7] Y. Wang and D.J. Hu: Machine Tools & Manufacture, Vol. 745(2005), p. 43
