Micro Machining of AISI 440C Stainless Steel using Magnetic Field and Magnetic Abrasive Particles

Abstract

Magnetic abrasive finishing (MAF) is a micromachining process that uses magnetic field and magnetic abrasive particles to conduct the mechanism of material removal in micro-nanometer scales. In this paper, by an experimental method and statistical analysis, the effects of parameters like working gap, work-piece rotational speed and material removal mechanism (injection of abrasive slurry of Al₂O₃) in the MAF process, on the external surfaces of cylindrical pieces of stainless steel (AISI 440C)were investigated on surface roughness. To do the experiments, a mechanism was designed and constructed. The results of this research show that the working gap and work-piece rotational speedhave a significant effect on the improvement of the surface roughness. It has been indicated that in vitro surface roughness improved 20% as a result of the gap working of 2 mm, workpiece rotational speed of 355 rpm, using the injection of abrasive slurry of Al₂O₃.