A recently developed finishing process using rotating magnetic field is known to be very efficient for the finishing of parts such as vacuum tube, sanitary tube, etc., which are difficult to be finished by the conventional finishing methods as they are generally curbed tubes. Many researchers have reported their experimental results and confirmed the high efficiency of the magnetic finishing methods for various material and shape of workpieces. And, recently, Shinmura et al. have developed the finishing system using rotating magnetic field for the finishing of non-magnetic tubes and have realized the mirror-like surface finishing by experiment. But, the finishing system using rotating magnetic field have defect that it is only possible to machine workpieces having circle cross section because of internal rotating tool. Therefore, a new concept of finishing process of the workpieces which cross section are not circle is important and required.
Magnetic abrasive jet machining, a new concept finishing process, is precision internal finishing process using working fluid mixed with magnetic abrasives. The mixed fluid is jetted into the internal surface of tube and magnetic poles are equiped on the external surface of the tube. Because workpiece or internal finishing tool need not be rotated, it is possible to finish workpieces which cross section are complex.
In this study, magnetic abrasive jet machining system is developed for complex shaped tubes and some characteristics of the finishing process are analyzed by simulation and experiment. In conclusion, it was possible to get the precision internal surfaces of complex shaped tubes. Also, optimal finishing condition is selected using simulation and verified by experiment.
