Available Technologies

Executive Summary

Magnetic field-assisted finishing (MAF) is a machining process which utilizes a magnet, ferrous materials, abrasive materials, and an oil to create a ‘brush’ for polishing operations. The process allows automation of surface finishing without the need for manual polishing. However, the quality of the finishing is highly dependent on the brush composition. Researchers at Michigan State University have recently developed a new MAF composition that can can improve the final surface quality.

Description of the Technology

The technology is a brush composition for magnetic assisted polishing comprised of a carrier fluid (hydrocarbon oils, vegetable oils, esters, etc.), abrasive particles, magnetic particles and optionally a solid lubricant. Examples of solid lubricants include graphite and hexagonal boron nitride and others. A range of abrasive particles can be used such as iron oxide, steel, sand cubic boron nitride and silicon carbide. The patented technology contains claims for a method of finishing a surface workplace and syringe delivery system to deliver the brush composition.

Benefits

• Non direct contact finishing method
• Can use on a standard CNC machine
• Eliminates hand polishing
• Ultrafine polishing of surfaces

Applications

• Polishing of steel, ceramics, molds, tooling
• Flat surfaces with some curvature possible

Patent Status

Published US application US20230312979A1

Publications

“EXPERIMENTAL AND STATISTICAL STUDY ON MAGNETIC-FIELD ASSISTED FINISHING OF MOLD STEEL USING NANO-SCALE SOLID LUBRICANT AND ABRASIVE PARTICLES”, ASME 2018 13th International Manufacturing Science and Engineering Conference, 2018

“Novel Process Modeling of Magnetic-Field Assisted Finishing (MAF) with Rheological Properties”, Lubricants, 2023

Licensing Rights

Full licensing rights available

Inventors

Dr. Patrick Kwon, Dr. Haseung Chung, Dr. Ken Foster

TECH ID

TEC2019-0103