Dual motion vibratory finishing machine and method

Abstract

A method for the surface finishing of a part or workpiece with loose particulate finishing material or media comprising the steps of providing a first body of finishing media, providing a second body of finishing media, said first body and said second body being in side-by-side juxtaposition with respect to each other, independently imparting vibratory action to each of said first and second bodies of finishing media to impart relative motion to the particular segments thereof and to cause portions of said first and second bodies to impinge upon each other, and subjecting the part or workpiece to the action of said finishing media for the surface finishing of said part or workpiece while said finishing media is in motion, preferably by fixturing said part or workpiece and passing said part or workpiece through the finishing media, and preferably wherein orbital motion is imparted to each of the said bodies of finishing media, especially orbital motion which is other than unidirectional, particularly when the orbital motion imparted to said first body of finishing media is a generally clockwise orbital motion and the orbital motion imparted to said second body of finishing media is a generally counterclockwise orbital motion, the part to be finished preferably being subjected to the action of the finishing media in the area of the confluence of said orbits or rolls, and a finishing machine particularly adapted for the carrying out of the said method, are disclosed.