The effect of abrasive grain's wear and contact conditions on surface texture in belt finishing

The belt finishing process is a recent manufacturing technique in the field of superfinishing of hard material. Its mechanisms have not yet been fully explained. This paper attempts to make a contribution to the understanding of the wear mechanisms of the abrasive film and its influence on surface roughness. First, the contact conditions between abrasive film and the surface have been analysed and the abrasive film wear has been theoretically modelled. Effective contact duration between grains and machined surface on the one hand, and average contact pressure on the other hand have been introduced as key parameters. Then, the effects of the most influential belt finishing parameters and their interactions on the surface roughness and the material removal have been experimentally investigated. It was revealed the existence of an optimum surface roughness reachable independently of the force and of the roller's hardness. It has also been revealed the existence of an optimum belt finishing duration depending on the feed, the force and on the roller's hardness.