Current status and application of abrasive flow finishing processes: A review

Abstract

The abrasive flow finishing (AFF) process which was introduced during the late-1960s has emerged as an important non-traditional metal finishing process and is increasingly being utilized by industry. The process has found applications in a wide range of fields such as aerospace, defence, and surgical and tool manufacturing industries. Extrusion pressure, flow volume, grit size, number of cycles, media, and workpiece configuration are the principal machining parameters that control the surface finish characteristics. Recently there has been a trend to create hybrid processes by merging the AFF process with other non-conventional processes. This has opened up new vistas for finishing difficult to machine materials with complicated shapes which would have been otherwise impossible. These processes are emerging as major technological infrastructure for precision, meso, micro, and nano scale engineering. This review provides an insight into the fundamental and applied research in the area and creates a better understanding of this finishing process, with the objective of helping in the selection of optimum machining parameters for the finishing of varied workpieces in practice.