Toward physical description of form and finish performance in dry belt finishing process by a tribo-energetic approach

Belt finishing is a fine machining process widely used to improve surface finish and to increase wear resistance and fatigue life. Despite the basics of this process are not well understood yet, the cycle-time and the belt oscillation frequency are considered as the most important process variables. In this paper, their effects on the surface finish and on the form aspects are investigated in connection with the principal physical mechanisms (cutting, ploughing and friction) activated during the belt finishing operations. With this aim, an energy approach of the process combined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of the abrasive belt, is introduced. Two belt finishing energetic regimes are identified and then discussed. A wear “scenario” of the belt in dry finishing by loading or chip build-up and storing in space between active grits is also evidenced.