A NOVEL CIRCULATING ABRASIVE FLOW STRATEGY USING CIRCULAR HALBACH ARRAY FOR MAGNETO-RHEOLOGICAL FINISHING OF Ti-6Al-4V

Abstract

In the pursuit of advancing the surface machining efficiency of Ti-6Al-4V material through magnetic polishing, this study introduces a new approach methodology. A novel approach integrates Magneto-Rheological Finishing (MRF) into a circulating system, employing a circular Halbach array to ensure a continuous and uniform flow of magnetic abrasives. Employing simulation and theoretical analysis, MRF polishing processes with the fluid dynamics of abrasive (SiO2) and magnetic particles (Fe3O4) during the finishing process of Ti-6Al-4V material using a circulating conveyor designed for the regeneration of abrasive particles. To investigate the impact of magnetic fluid distributions influenced by magnetic fields on the machining process, we meticulously conduct experimental analyses. The findings underscore that diminishing the working distance results in an expanded distribution range of magnetic abrasive fluid on the conveyor belt. Consequently, this induces a noteworthy variation in impact positions on the workpiece surface, leading to an increased exposed area. A pivotal outcome of this study is the observed augmentation in machining quality and efficiency. Remarkably, the surface roughness of the Ti-6Al-4V workpiece undergoes a substantial improvement, diminishing from an initial Ra = 431.1 nm to an impressive Ra = 39.6 nm within a 30-minute timeframe.