Title: Developments in electro-chemical honing (ECH): a review on experimental investigation of precision finishing of mechanical parts

Authors: H. Singh; P.K. Jain

Addresses: Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, India ' Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, India

Abstract: The surface quality and shape deviations play a crucial role in the functional performance of critical engineering components during service. Hybrid machining processes (HMPs) are gaining considerable interest from the manufacturing community in order to meet the challenges of stringent surface quality and tolerance requirements, often coupled with high production rates of parts having complex shapes and contours. Electrochemical honing (ECH) is a hybrid electrolytic micro-finishing technology characterised by a distinct coupling of ECH and abrasive honing to provide controlled functional surface generation and fast material removal capabilities in a single operation. Surface finish of the order of 0.05µm and tolerance within ±0.002 can be obtained, if a distinct coordination of electrolytic dissolution and honing is achieved in ECH. This paper is an attempt to present a comprehensive literature review on ECH of mechanical parts along with their experimental details. Some key features of input process parameters of ECH process and directions for future research are also discussed.

Keywords: electrochemical honing; ECH; hybrid machining processes; external gears; internal holes; internal cylinders; external cylindrical; spherical parts; precision finishing; mechanical parts; surface quality; shape deviations; electrolytic dissolution; abrasive honing; literature review; process parameters.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPTECH.2016.074177

International Journal of Precision Technology, 2016 Vol.6 No.1, pp.17 - 41

Received: 24 Feb 2015
Accepted: 04 Jun 2015

Published online: 14 Jan 2016 *

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