A Step-by-Step Analysis of Manual Polishing Sequences

Abstract

Polishing of tool steels for e.g. injection moulding of plastic parts or direct polishing of products is perhaps the most important industrial finishing process today. Polishing is often made manually to ensure the highest quality and nanometre roughness. This study compare steel samples prepared in different companies to study how different polishing sequences affect final surface qualities, i.e. trying to find crucial factors controlling high gloss appearance and defect levels. The samples were prepared in a way that every step of the polishing process could be studied quantitatively at nanometre level using phase shifting- and coherence scanning interferometry. In addition, all samples were qualitatively documented and judged visually by the polishers themselves. It could be concluded that a ‘several-step’ strategy in combination with short polishing time was advantageous. Also, guidelines for tool and abrasive selection is presented suggesting cotton as carrier and diamonds of 1 µm size for more time efficient final polishing.Funding: Uddeholms AB, The Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research Fund and ProViking as well as the European Commission Seventh Framework and the poliMATIC projectpoliMATI