FREE-ABRASIVE MACHINING.

The article describes the free-abrasive machining technique, named the FAM process, which is a flat-machining process that combines rapid stock removal with precision control of flatness, thickness, and parallelism. The process is relatively simple; it uses the cutting action of abrasive particles floating freely in a fluid on a specially hardened alloy wheel. As the wheel rotates, new, sharp cutting edges are continually introduced to the face of the workpiece, causing stock to be removed at a uniform and predictable rate. The FAM process can accommodate a wide variety of workpieces while handling many materials, including rubber, die-cast aluminum, copper, steel tungsten carbide, sapphire, quartz, glass and ceramic.