Self-modulating abrasive medium and its application to abrasive flow machining for finishing micro channel surfaces

Hsinn Jyh Tzeng, Biing Hwa Yan, Rong Tzong Hsu, Yan Cherng Lin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

72 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study developed a self-modulating abrasive medium whose viscosity and fluidity can be adjusted during the processing period. The complex micro channel was fabricated on the stainless steel (SUS304) by using wire electrical discharge machining (wire-EDM). An experiment of employing abrasive flow machining (AFM) was conducted to evaluate the characteristics of various levels of roughness and finishing of the micro channel surface. In the experiment, the parameters of affecting AFM machining including abrasive particle size, concentration, extrusion pressure and machining time were selected to verify the machining quality of the micro channel. Experimental results reveal that at high viscosity and concentration the surface roughness of a medium with a coarse particle size is lower than that of a medium with a fine particle size. Furthermore, the machining quality of the micro channel improves as the extrusion pressure and the machining time increase because there is an increase in the fluidity of the medium. Therefore, the self-modulating abrasive-laden medium can be used to determine and influence the surface finishing and the precision of the shapes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1163-1169
Number of pages7
JournalInternational Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology
Volume32
Issue number11-12
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2007

Keywords

  • Abrasive flow machining (AFM)
  • Surface finishing
  • Surface roughness
  • Wire electrical discharge machining (wire-EDM)

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