Surface Finishing of SKD 11 Tool Steel via Plasma-Based Electron Beam Irradiation

Abstract

In fabrication of precision parts and metal molds, hand polishing is generally used as the final process. However, it requires heavy handwork and expert techniques, so this surface finishing process is regarded as a bottleneck in the total manufacturing system. Large current high enthalpy plasma electron beams are proposed in this paper to smooth SKD11 work material surfaces. In this technology, high-density plasma electron beam with current density as high as 15J/cm 2 is irradiated onto the workpiece surface of an area with an effective diameter of 60 mm, so that good quality surface can be obtained with high efficiency. Moreover, the mechanical properties and microstructure of machined surface have also been observed to investigate the machining performance of the EBM process.

C013 Precise Prediction of Shape Change at Convex Tip by Large-area EB Irradiation

“…In large-area electron beam (EB) irradiation method developed recently, high-energy density of EB can be obtained without focusing the EB. Previous works clarified that highly efficient surface finishing of metal molds made of steel, ceramics and cemented carbide was possible by the large-area EB irradiation [1][2][3][4]. This efficient surface finishing method also can be applied to the surface finishing and surface modification of biomaterials, such as titanium alloy and stainless steels [5,6].…”