8 Common Surface Finishing Operations

Surface finish is a term, that refers to the process used to alter a metal surface by adding, removing, or reshaping.
These processes are usually achieved through mechanical, chemical, or electrical means. And the goal is to protect the metal and improve the aesthetic side.
Surface finishing is also known as surface texturing or surface topography.
Some common surface finishing operations in Engineering and industries include:
1. Grinding:
It is an abrasive machining process that uses a grinding wheel or grinder. It is a conventional finish machining process used for producing a good surface finish on the components.
There are four types of grinding they include:
● Surface grinding
● Cylindrical grinding
● Internal grinding
● Centerless grinding.
2. Shot peening:
It is a cold work process, used to impart compressive residual stresses onto the surface of a component which results in modified mechanical properties.
It enhances the quality and performance of metallic mechanical components subjected to cylindrical load or friction stresses.
3. Burnishing:
It is a process of surface modification, that produces a smooth surface finish by the planetary rotation of a tool over a bored or turned surface.
It is one of the advanced finishing techniques in which no chips are produced and material is not removed from the surface of the workpiece.
Burnishing processes are broadly classified into two types
● Ball burnishing
● Roller burnishing
4. Galvanizing:
Hot dip galvanizing is the process of immersing iron or steel in a bath of molten zinc to produce a corrosion-resistant, multi-layered coating of zinc-iron alloy and zinc metal.
5. Electroplating:
This simply means coating an object or a material with a metallic layer or layers using electric current. It is primarily used to change the physical properties of objects.
6. Electropolishing:
It is an electrochemical process, by which surface material is removed by anodic dissolution.
Electropolishing uses a combination of rectified current, and a blended chemical electrolyte bath, to remove flaws from the surface of a metal part.
7. Anodizing:
The formation of an oxide layer on aluminum or aluminum alloys by electrolyte bath is called anodization.
The process derives its name from the fact that the aluminum part to be coated becomes the anode in an electrolytic cell.
This differentiates it from electroplating in which the part is made of cathode.
8. Lapping:
lapping is a surface finishing process, used to increase the dimensional accuracy and surface finish of the workpiece using fine abrasive particles to act.
The simple working of a lapping process involves three elements;
● A workpiece
● A lapping plate
● Abrasive particles.
In conclusion, a proper surface finish ensures that the final product looks better and lasts longer, increase corrosion resistance, help with the adhesion of paint and other coating, eliminate surface defect, increase resistance to chemicals, enhances aesthetics, etc.
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[@albertardanuy7468]

Good summary of the most rellevant surface finishing techniques ! Thanks

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[@steeltechnicamalaysia2378]

Very informative