Minimal coolant micro-finishing system and process

Abstract

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of surface finishing operations, more particularly to micro-finishing systems and processes. The micro-finishing system and process of the present disclosure is configured to perform surface finishing operation on a work-piece. The micro-finishing system comprises: (i) a micro-finishing film having a layer of abrasives which is configured to be rubbed against the work-piece, (ii) a contact tooling which is configured to provide support to the micro-finishing film, and (iii) ports which are configured within the contact tooling strategically to reduce heat and frictional losses generated due to rubbing of the layer of abrasives against the work-piece by a minimum flow of coolant at the desired location. The ports are typically drilled holes.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A micro-finishing system for performing a surface finishing operation on a desired location on a work-piece, said micro-finishing system comprising:
 a micro-finishing film having a layer of abrasives configured to be rubbed against said work-piece at the desired location;   a contact tooling configured to provide support to said micro-finishing film; and   ports configured within said contact tooling for providing a flow of coolant at the desired location for strategically reducing heat and frictional losses generated due to rubbing of said layer of abrasives against said work-piece.   
     
     
         2 . The micro-finishing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said layer of abrasives has perforations which allow coolant to flow towards said work-piece from said ports of said contact tooling. 
     
     
         3 . The micro-finishing system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said perforations are configured to have different patterns and have any regular or irregular geometrical shape. 
     
     
         4 . The micro-finishing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said layer of abrasives is in the form of a film, a tape, or a belt. 
     
     
         5 . The micro-finishing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said rubbing of said layer of abrasives against said work-piece is configured to remove a thin amorphous surface layer of said work-piece. 
     
     
         6 . The micro-finishing system as claimed in  claim 1 , which includes an indexing means configured to periodically index said layer of abrasives. 
     
     
         7 . The micro-finishing system as claimed in  claim 1 , which includes a means configured to rotate and oscillate said work-piece against said layer of abrasives causing the cross-hatching at the desired location. 
     
     
         8 . The micro-finishing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said ports are typically drilled holes. 
     
     
         9 . A process for performing a micro-finishing operation on the surface of a work-piece at a desired location by means of a micro-finishing film, said micro-finishing process comprises the following steps:
 supporting said micro-finishing film with a contact tooling;   providing a layer of abrasive on said micro-finishing film;   rubbing said layer of abrasive against said work-piece;   configuring ports on said contact tooling; and   supplying coolant at the desired location for reducing frictional losses generated due to rubbing of said layer of abrasive against said work-piece.   
     
     
         10 . The micro-finishing process as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprises the step of indexing of said layer of abrasives periodically. 
     
     
         11 . The micro-finishing process as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprises the step of rotating and oscillating of said work-piece against said layer of abrasives to cause cross-hatching at the desired location.