THE FORMATION OF THE SURFACE DURING AN ABRASIVE FINISHING AT CONSTANT AND VARIABLE CLAMPING FORCES: FINISHING AT CONSTANT AND VARIABLE CLAMPING FORCES

Abstract

In this work the flat abrasive finishing process is reported. The mechanical and chemical phenomena taking place during the finishing process are described. The most common forming process schemes observed during abrasive treatment are reviewed. The schemes of pulsed, geometrical and energetic models are discussed. On the basis of the energetic hypothesis and Preston hypothesis, the rational law of clamping force variation during the finishing is established. This law allowed for the stabilization of the contact pressure and an increase of the treatment efficiency. An exponential dependence of a boundary contact area variation during the finishing of planes with different initial profiles of the macro-topography is developed. An experimental confirmation of the Preston hypothesis during the abrasive finishing is carried out with the plane-finishing machine “Rastr 220”. The comparison experiments are carried out at constant and variable clamping forces of the treated surface towards the tool. It is found that by varying the forces according to the exponential law (i.e. similar to the changing of the boundary contact area during the abrasive finishing) the process efficiency is increasing by a factor of 2.5–3. It is shown that the changes of the root mean square deviation [Formula: see text] of the roughness [Formula: see text] of a treated surface in the beginning of the process (at time [Formula: see text] min) during the finishing at a constant clamping force is two times higher compared to the treatment at a variable clamping force in the same time period.