Dynamic modeling and trajectory measurement on vibratory finishing

Vibratory finishing has been widely used in advanced manufacturing industry, such as aerospace, wind power equipment, and hydraulic equipment. Although the mechanism of vibratory surface finishing has been studied for decades, the fundamental issues of vibratory finishing such as the trajectories of media and workpiece during finishing are still not solved. In this study, a four-degree-of-freedom dynamic model is developed to analyze the dynamic responses of the vibratory finisher and validated by experimental tests. Coupled RecurDyn and EDEM technique is employed to simulate the trajectories of media and workpiece in a vibratory finisher. The simulation results are validated by X-ray experimental tests. Both the simulation and X-ray images show that the global trajectories of media and workpiece are a combination of three motions, circumferential motion around the center axis of the vibrating barrel, the radial elliptical motion around the center of rotation, and the self-flip movement. The trajectories of media exhibit an annular helix motion in the vibratory barrel in general. The shape, density, and weight of a workpiece and media have a significant effect on their global trajectory and local movements. The mechanism of vibratory surface finishing is better understood, which has great importance to the improvement of existing surface finishing processing technology and development of the next generation of vibratory mass finishing.