Machine Polishing and Buffing

Usually, Polishing is undertaken to make metal smoother or to generate a uniform surface. The function of the buffing operation, conversely is to generates a smooth uniform surface with a high, brilliant lusture.

Semi-automatic machines are mostly utilized for doing this job. These machines carry a series of polishing and buffing wheels which might be adjusted to distinct positions so that all surfaces of the part may either by polished or buffed as needed. For ordinary polishing and buffing operations, polishing and buffing wheels are mounted on floor polishing lathes.

Commonly utilized polishing wheels are constructed in muslin, canvas, felt and leather, while buffs are flexible wheels built of cotton cloth; canvas, linen flannel or wheel discs.

Polishing and buffing actions, like as wheels, are generally divided into two broad categories :

a.    cutting down, i.e. eliminating of scratches and grain lines from previous operations,
b.    Colouring, which gives the product the final, bright, deep lusture?

Buffing compounds may either by greaseless or have a grease base. A mixture of glue base, a softening agent, and a mineral built up a greaseless compound.

Besides buffing and polishing wheels, coated abrasive belts and brushes are now extensively utilized in modern metal industry. The advantage of utilizing abrasive belts is the quick change that is possible from a utilized belt to a new one.
The ability of the belt to eliminate stock rapidly and to generate fine finishes, plus its ability to generate a very fast and very cool cut, led to the rapid development of coated abrasive machines.