Super Finishing

Super Finishing

Super finishing is an important manufacturing process used to produce components with exceptionally high surface finish and close dimensional tolerances. Many difficult problems can be solved with super finishing such as removal of tool marks, correction of errors from thermal treatment and wear resistance. The process is commonly used on components such as gears, shafts, cams, rods, pins and plungers.

The main elements of the super finishing process include eliminating surface damage and creating a uniform, high-quality surface finish. This can be achieved through a variety of machining techniques, such as grinding, honing, lapping, and polishing. The process begins by subjecting the component to a sequence of abrasive operations to remove material at a very precise rate. This can be done using abrasive machinery, such as superfinishing stones, diamond grinding wheels, polishing squares, and powered laps. The abrasive tools are applied to the surface of the component while it is rotated at a determined rate. Depending on the material, a single pass may be sufficient, or multiple passes may be necessary.

The super finishing process not only corrects surface imperfections, but also produces a smooth, mirror-like finish. This highly polished surface is often beneficial for critical components since it minimizes friction and wear. In addition to increasing performance, the super finishing process provides improved corrosion resistance by greatly reducing the number of microscopic cavities in the surface. Furthermore, the super finishing process enhances the surface hardening of components. This would enable the component to be stronger, wear-resistant and even self-lubricating.

The super finishing process can also be used to reduce the run-out of components by more than 50%. As a result, they can rotate with more precision and higher levels of accuracy. In addition, the process will not unduly distort or weaken the component since the process is non-thermal in nature.

There are numerous advantages to using the super finishing process. Components are finished faster and with consistent results, due to the precision and efficiency of the process. Overall, the super finishing process is an effective way to produce components with enhanced performance, surface finish and corrosion resistance.