In industry, abrasion is a process that applies friction to erode away material from a workpiece. It is used to remove surface imperfections and achieve a smoother and more refined surface. Many industries use abrasion for surface finishing. Abrasive finishing can improve the appearance, function, and durability of a part or component.
Abrasive materials are used to create abrasion. What type of abrasive material is used depends on the hardness of a workpiece material. In order to be effective, the abrasive material needs to be harder than the workpiece material.
Abrasion-Based Finishing Processes
Traditional manufacturing methods that use abrasion include sanding and grinding. They erode away surface imperfections through scratching, cutting, or grinding. The problem with these methods is that it’s often difficult to achieve a uniform finish, isn’t effective for pieces with complex surface geometries or inner surfaces, and can even damage the workpiece by removing too much material.
To avoid these problems, more and more companies are using abrasive flow machining (AFM) in their finishing process. AFM uses specially formulated abrasive flow media to smooth and deburr a workpiece. The abrasive flow media is a viscous, putty-like substance that is hydraulically extruded along and through a workpiece. This action erodes away burrs and other imperfections while smoothing and polishing a workpiece’s surfaces.
The Advantages of Abrasive Flow Machining
AFM provides many advantages over other abrasion-based finishing methods. These advantages include:
- Precise and controlled uniform surface finishing.
- Ideal for use on workpieces with complex surface features.
- AFM can smooth and polish inner surfaces that are impossible to reach using other methods.
- No damage to the workpiece surface.
- Produces consistent and repeatable results, ensuring that all parts are finished to the same quality standards.
- AFM can be applied to smooth and deburr workpieces made from a wide range of materials, including metal, plastic, and ceramics.
- More cost-effective than other finishing methods.
The successful outcome of any AFM job depends on the abrasive media used during the process. Many factors need to be considered when selecting the right abrasive flow media for a job, including the type, size, and density of the abrasive materials used as well as the thickness and viscosity of the carrier medium. Some of the abrasive materials commonly used in abrasive flow media include aluminum oxide, silicon carbide, boron carbide, and diamond particles, to name a few.
Pittsburgh, PA Abrasive Flow Machining Services
When companies in Pennsylvania need precisely formulated abrasive flow media they turn to Deburring & Finishing Technologies. We’ve been a leading provider of abrasive flow media and abrasive flow machining services in Pennsylvania and across the U.S. since 2009. Our engineering team has the experience and know-how to custom formulate abrasive flow media suitable for a variety of materials.
Located just outside Pittsburgh, PA, Deburring & Finishing Technologies serves the needs of many industries, including aerospace, automotive, electrical components, oil & gas, medical components, and computer parts to name a few. You can contact us through our website or call us at (412) 849-1522. for more information about AFM, and abrasive flow media, and get a free quote.