Finishing Services that Remove or Reshape the Component Surface

There are several surface finishing techniques that “remove or reshape the surface layer” of a precision machined component. These finishing techniques can be applied to a wide variety of materials and provide increased durability, tighter tolerances, better aesthetics and improved functionality for many applications.

Electropolish

Electropolish is a polishing process that uses an electrical current to remove material from the surface of a machine component. This process improves the surface finish by leveling out the micropeaks and valleys on the surface layer of metal created during the machining process. It is the opposite of electroplating, in which a current is used to add material to the surface of a machined component to level out the surface layer.

Grinding

Grinding is a process that uses an abrasive grinding
wheel to remove material from the surface of the precision-turned component. This improves the surface finish and provides extremely accurate dimensions for a wide variety of applications. Depending on the geometry of the turned component, centerless or centered grinding may be used to complete the finishing process. Grinding can be done on the outside diameter (OD), inside diameter (ID) and a variety of types of features on the components (for example, holes, slots and flats).

• Honing is a subset of grinding, used on the ID of a precision machined component. It is more like a polishing process than a true grinding process. The honing process uses a rotating stone (hone) with a fine abrasive to remove/polish a fine layer of the surface material.
• Lapping is also a subset of grinding,  which is used on the OD of a precision turned component to improve the surface finish and provide tighter dimensional controls. In this process, the abrasive material is in a paste form applied to a lap plate, and the component is passed against the plate to remove/polish the surface layer.

Pickling 

Pickling is a chemical treatment that removes material from the surface layer of the metal. For precision machined components, it is most often used to clean (remove) the surface scale created during the heat treatment process. Components are dipped in an acid bath that dissolves the oxide scale from the surface level of the part.

Tumbling and Vibratory Finishing 

Barrel tumbling is a process that uses various sizes and types of tumbling media in a rotating barrel to rub against the surface layer of the components. This removes excess material and burrs, can harden the surface, polish out machining marks, and brighten and burnish the parts. The size and type of media used will vary depending on the material of the component, its geometry (size and features) and final requirements. Tumbling media can be made of metals, ceramics and plastics, and come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. Similar to tumbling, turned components are put into a tub-like machine that has vibratory media in it. The tub is vibrated so the media jostles against the part to remove surface marks and burrs, and result in an improved finish. Vibratory finishing is used more often than barrel tumbling for turned components due to the complexity of features and tight tolerances of the parts.

— PMPA member Pioneer Service Inc.