Method for finishing the surface of a rolling contact component

Abstract

A method for finishing the surface of a rolling contact component, such as a bearing roller element, a bearing ring or a traction drive rolling element, comprises the steps of: carrying out a cutting operation on the surface, subsequently calendering or burnishing the surface by means of a ball comprising a material harder than the bearing component material whereby the maximum calendering or burnishing pressure exerted on the surface is less than 7 Gpa.

1 . Method for finishing the surface of a rolling contact component, such as a bearing rolling element, a bearing ring or a traction drive rolling element, comprising the steps of: 
 carrying out a cutting operation on the surface,    subsequently calendering or burnishing the surface by means of a ball comprising a material harder than the rolling contact component material whereby the maximum calendering or burnishing pressure exerted on the surface is less than 7 GPa.    
     
     
         2 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein compressive stresses are generated at and/or beneath the surface, which compressive stresses do not exceed 1 GPa absolute.  
     
     
         3 . Method according to  claim 2 , wherein the compressive stresses do not exceed 0.8 GPa absolute.  
     
     
         4 . Method according to claims  1 ,  2  or  3 , wherein a hard cutting operation is carried out on the surface before the calendering or burnishing operation.  
     
     
         5 . Method according to any of claims  1 - 4 , wherein the cutting operation and the calendering or burnishing operation are carried out in a single pass turning process.  
     
     
         6 . Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the calendering or burnishing operation is carried out by means of a ball comprising a material harder than the rolling contact component material.  
     
     
         7 . Method according to  claim 6 , wherein the ball is rolled over the surface.  
     
     
         8 . Method according to  claim 6 , wherein the ball is slid over the surface, a high traction fluid being provided for increasing the sliding force between said ball and surface.  
     
     
         9 . Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein specific surface portions are exposed to the calendering or burnishing pressure each more than one time.  
     
     
         10 . Method according to  claim 9 , wherein the ball is rolled over the surface maximally five times.