Extrude Hone
An extrude hone, also known as an abrasive flow machine, is a machine that performs a finishing process using a highly abrasive and viscous putty to polish, deburr, hone, and radius material in a single operation. The process can also decrease roughness by 75-90%.
Most importantly, the extrude hone can finish complex or otherwise inaccessible areas simultaneously and blindly.
More product information can be found on the Extrude Hone website.
How does it work?
There are 3 major elements to the abrasive flow machine process: the tooling, the putty media, and the machine itself.
- Tooling: Used to shape, constrict, and direct the flow of the media. This determines what part of the piece will be finished, since the abrasive action occurs at the points where the putty’s flow is most restricted.
- Media: There are many different kinds of putty that vary based on viscosity, pattern, and abrasive aggressiveness. The putty perfectly conforms to the size and shape of whatever passage it is forced through. The media thus allows for a more consistent polish, since all surfaces are finished simultaneously.
- Machine: The machine controls extrusion pressure, flow volume, and flow rate. The hone can operate on a one- or two-way system.
What are the benefits?
- Low cost tooling.
- Low set up times.
- The abrasive flow machine can hone dozens of parts, holes, or passages at once, cutting down finishing times.
- It is also strong on consistency, repeatability, and tight tolerance-holding.
Air Flow Tester
Predominantly used in measuring the air flow through a components holes or slots where the drawing states that a conforming flow rate overrides any hole or slot dimensions outlined on the drawing.
The Air Flow Testing machine will also compliment the Extrude Hone in that we can measure flow rates both pre and post Extrude hone and determine what parameters are required to achieve a conforming flow rate first time.
The Flow Tester will also determine if there is any detriment to air flow post any special processing of the holes or slots i.e. Nitriding / Carbide Coating / Electroless Nickel Plating.
Please contact sales@fgpltd.co.uk for any questions or RFQ requirements around these processes.
