Development of a magneto-pressed polishing tool of planetary motion type.

Abstract

This paper describes the development of a magneto-pressed polishing tool of planetary motion type for the purpose of robot-polishing of curved surface. The previously developed tool of uni-axis type is likely to create waviness on a polished surface, because of uneven distribution of stock removal rate across the path of the grinding wheel. The newly developed tool, however, has three grinding wheels, each of which is fixed to one of the shafts of ball splines and revolves while turning on its own axis. This mechanism smoothens uneven distribution of number of grains which pass over the vicinity of a point, which results in even distribution of stock removal. Therefore, the planetary tool realizes not only high polishing efficiency but also excellent surface quality. In this paper, an analysis is given of the distribution of stock removal, and a cross sectional shape is measured to certify the reduction of the unevenness.