Abstract

Most of mold manufacturing procedures have been automated by the introduction of NC machine tool and CAD/CAM system. But the three-dimensional surface curvature of the mold must be done by hand work of well-skilled workers. Magnetic abrasive polishing powders were investigated for surface polishing for 3D curvature. This study aims to investigate homogeneously distributed hard phase in Fe matrix and strong bonding between Fe-matrix and hard phase. The NbC powder, B_4C powder and Al_2O_3 powder were mixed in Fe-matrix respectively. Mixed Fe-hard phase powders were compacted by press and then these were melted by plasma melting. According to SEM, XRD and OM observation, Fe-NbC magnetic abrsive powder had the most homogeneous distribution and strong bonding. As a result of magnetic polishing, the surface roughness before magnetic polishing, 1 µm R_max, was reduced to 0.2 µm R_max over the entire inner surface of the tube.