Magnetic barrel finishing of hard metals for accessories

1^st report: Effect of water flow on machining performance

Abstract

Magnetic barrel finishing is used to reduce roughness and for deburring of objects made by lost wax casting of precious metals. The use of materials that are harder than 200 HV is increasing in the jewelry industry. This makes it difficult to achieve the required surface roughness. This study focused on the water flow in the container, which can affect machining performance. The results indicated that flow was generated in the same direction as the magnetic disk rotation and in the opposite direction. There were also conditions where the flow did not occur. The orbital motion of the medium mainly produces flow in the direction of rotation of the disk and the motion like paddling mainly produces flow in the opposite direction. We concluded that no water flow occurs and the machining performance is higher when these two types of flow are offset.