The Enhancement of Gear Quality through the Abrasive Flow Finishing Process

Book excerpt: Gears are the most frequently used mechanical component in many industrial applications. This book investigates various aspects of the use of abrasive flow finishing (AFF) to impart a quality finish on spur and bevel gears. It gives an overview of the AFF process and gears, a review of relevant past work, and considers the development of a machine for the two-way AFF process and fixtures for gear finishing. The book also provides a description of the parametric optimization of the AFF process and the laser texturing of gears to enhance the performance of the process. Readers of this text will realize that the AFF is a productive, flexible, economical, and sustainable process for gear finishing that can reduce the noise and vibration of gears through a reduction in microgeometry, functional testing parameters, and surface roughness.