Precision finishing process developed

SCIENTISTS AT the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-K) have developed a new precision finishing process known as ?Magnetorheological Abrasive Flow Finishing? (MRAFF). Three IIT professors? Dr Manas Das, Dr VK Jain and Dr P S Ghoshdastidar? have developed this new technique.

SCIENTISTS AT the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-K) have developed a new precision finishing process known as ‘Magnetorheological Abrasive Flow Finishing” (MRAFF). Three IIT professors— Dr Manas Das, Dr VK Jain and Dr P S Ghoshdastidar— have developed this new technique.

Dr Jain, while talking to the Hindustan Times, said manufacturing of precision parts required final finishing operation, which was critical and labour intensive. Traditional finishing processes like grinding, honing, lapping, use of abrasives as cutting tools for getting the desired surface accuracy and geometry were incapable of achieving high precision.

Besides, it did not suit to automate the process where the desired surface finish can be obtained as a function of time. To meet these essential requirements a new precision finishing process was needed, he said. The new technique developed at the IIT-K would meet all these needs of nano parts finishing, he added.

He said in view of these facts some advanced precision finishing processes like Magnetic Float Polishing (MFP), Magnetic Abrasive Finish (MAF) and Abrasive Flow machine (AFM) were evolved in the last few decades. But, the evolution of MRAFF has surpassed the efficiency and finishing process.

He said the MRAFF set up had been designed and fabricated at IIT-K. Under it two cubic stainless steel work-pieces with flat surfaces are kept in two diametrically opposite internal slots of the cylindrical fixture, which is held between two cores of an electromagnet and it is connected with the top and bottom Magnetorheological Polishing Fluid (MRPF) which contains sufficient amount of MRP Fluid. A hydraulic pump is used to impart reciprocating motion to the pistons inside the MRPF cylinders. MRPF is extruded from top MRPF cylinder to bottom MRPF cylinder and the vice versa through the work piece fixture.

Using the electromagnet, magnetic field is applied selectively across the work piece for carrying out the finishing process, he said.