ABRASIVE FLOW MACHINING

VERSATILE, EFFICIENT, EFFECTIVE, AND FLAWLESS

WHAT IS AFM?

Abrasive Flow Machining (AFM) is a precision finishing process ideal for achieving uniform, high-quality finishes on surfaces with complex geometries that are otherwise difficult to access.

This is deburring and polishing method removes burrs, surface irregularities, and improves surface finish, enhancing both the performance and aesthetics of parts.

The pressure, media composition, and flow rate can be tailored to meet specific finishing requirements.

    • Deburring

    • Internal Radiusing

    • Surface Stress Relief

    • Polishing

    • Geometry Optimization


    AFM is especially useful for parts with internal channels, cavities, or intricate features that need consistent finishing.

    Commonly used on metals such as steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and titanium.

    • Process efficiency

    • Versatility

    • Precision-quality

    • Repeatability

    • Enhanced component

    • Performance

    • Customizability

  • The process involves the controlled flow of a highly viscous abrasive media through or across the part's surfaces. The media, usually a semi-liquid polymer filled with abrasive particles, is forced under pressure through internal passages, holes, or over intricate surface geometries, effectively polishing, deburring, or smoothing the surface.

    • fluid viscosity

    • media flow rate

    • particle density and hardness

    • substrate hardness

    • abrasive particle size

    • abrasive concentration

    • Aerospace

    • Food processing

    • Automotive

    • Hydraulics

    • Medical

    • Electronics

    • Firearms

CLA (N)

1

2

4

8

16

32

53

125

250

500

1000

2000

SURFACE ROUGHNESS CONVERSION CHART

Ra (micrometers)

0.025

0.05

.1

.2

0.4

0.8

1.6

3.2

6.3

12.5

25.0

50.0

Ra (microinches)

1

2

4

8

1.6

32

63

125

250

500

1000

2000

RMS

1.1

2.2

4.4

8.8

17.6

32.5

64.3

137.5

275

550

1100

2200

Ra = Roughness Average in micrometers or microinches.
RMS = Root Mean Square in microinches.
CLA = Center Line Average in microinches.
Rt = Roughness Total in microns
N = New ISO (grade) scale numbers.
Cut-off Length = Length required for sample.

Rt

0.3

0.5

0.8

1.2

2.0

4.0

8.0

13

25

50

100

200

N

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

Cut-off Length (in)

0.003

0.01

0.01

0.01

0.01

0.03

0.03

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.3

0.3

Cut-off Length (mm)

0.08

0.25

0.25

0.25

0.25

0.8

0.8

2.5

2.5

2.5

8.0

8.0

WE MEETS TIGHT TOLERANCES 

Superior Precision Finishing

By using a variety of media and precise flow rates, we customize our AFM process to meet your exact technical specifications, ensuring superior results for even the most challenging components. Whether your project is large or small, we guarantee unmatched quality and consistency across industries when precision matters most.

 FAQs

  • Abrasive flow machining (AFM) may also be called abrasive flow deburring, abrasive flow grinding, and extrusion honing.

  • Our Engineering and Quality team is determined to help achieve your surface finishing solutions.

  • Yes, Higher viscosity media is used for uniformly abrading the walls of large passages. Lower viscosity media is generally appropriate for radiusing edges and for processing small areas.