A surface is defined as the exterior boundary of an object with its surroundings, which may be any other object, such as fluids air, water, or a combination of these. The surface encloses the object’s bulk mechanical and physical properties. The quality of the surface is an important factor in deciding the performance of a manufactured product.
Surface finishing is done to alter the surface of a material for aesthetic or functional purposes. The basis material (whose surface is being altered) can be a metal, a plastic, a concrete, a ceramic, or any material used for engineering or decorative purposes. The relation between the smoothness and roughness of a component is called surface finish.
When components are produced either by machining or by hand processes, the movement of the cutting tool leaves certain lines or patterns on the work surface, finishing of a tool’s surface is done although, it affects the quality as well as characteristics of the obtained job such as wearing, lifetime of workpiece, fatigue, corrosion, vibrations, noise, lubrication, efficiency, etc. In this chapter, we will be studying the complete process of surface finishing.
Objectives of Surface FinishingÂ
The main objectives of surface finishing are described below.
(i) All smooth surfaces which are free from scratches and blemishes, provide a good aesthetic appearance. This all adds value to the product is gives a favourable impression to the customers.Â
(ii) Smooth surfaces are free from scratches, sharp corners, and edges giving safety to users.Â
(iii) Friction and wear are also decided by surface conditions. In the case of mating parts, the mating surface should be perfectly finished to avoid wear and energy loss due to friction.
(iv) Good quality surfaces improve the mechanical and physical properties of the material. Any surface flow can act as a point of stress concentration.Â
(v) A slightly rough surface having uniform and constantly maintained value of surface roughness, provides anti-glazed property to the same.