13-06-2012, 11:14 AM
AFM APPLICATIONS
Some of the successful applications of AFM are:
Removing thermal recast layers after EDM, or LBM machining process.
Improving the conditions of the airfoil surface made by EDM, ECM, casting, or milling.
Deburring, polishing, and radiusing of aircraft bearing retainers in a single operation.
One-shot machining of multiple holes and slots of aircraft engine turbine disks.
Accessory parts like fuel spray nozzles, fuel control bodies and welding torch tips are finished by AFM process.
Polishing of cast turbine blades to increase air flow.
Finishing impellers, integrally bladed rotor (IBR), compressor wheels and gears.
Finishing Inconel shaft, Hastalloy inner combustion liner and Titanium disk used in aircraft engine.
It can also be employed for removing left out light machining marks.
Processing various valves and fittings used in pharmaceutical and semiconductor industries.
Finishing of two-stroke cylinders and four stroke engine heads, hydraulic transmission steering, brake system, splines valves and fitting, sewing and textile machinery components was done using AFM for better performance.
Stainless steel impeller made by investment casting is polished by AFM
Finishing dies for extruding, drawing, forging, cold heading, and compacting.
Uniform finishing of threaded holes is also one of the common applications of this process.
Recently, AFM has been successfully employed for removing nickel aluminide coatings from turbine engine blades and vanes to replace the traditional procedure, which was lengthy and involving hazardous nitric acid solutions causing environmental pollution