Method and system for vibratory finishing of composite laminate parts

Abstract

A method for vibratory finishing of a composite laminate part includes placing particles of a vibratory media, comprising titanium oxide abrasive in a synthetic binder, into a trough of a vibratory finishing machine, placing a composite laminate part into the trough and substantially immersed in the vibratory media, and operating the vibratory finishing machine at a vibrational frequency of 40 Hz to 50 Hz with the vibratory media and composite laminate part disposed in the trough.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for vibratory finishing of a composite laminate part, comprising:
 placing particles of a vibratory media, comprising titanium oxide abrasive in a synthetic binder, into a trough of a vibratory finishing machine;   placing a composite laminate part into the trough and substantially immersed in the vibratory media; and   operating the vibratory finishing machine at a vibrational frequency of 40 Hz to 50 Hz with the vibratory media and composite laminate part disposed in the trough.   
     
     
         2 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the binder of the vibratory media comprises synthetic acrylic. 
     
     
         3 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the particles of vibratory media range in size from about ¼″ to about 2½″ and have a specific gravity of about 1.5 to about 2.0. 
     
     
         4 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein a total volume of the particles of vibratory media in the trough have a sectional density approximately equal to a sectional density of the composite laminate part. 
     
     
         5 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the particles of vibratory media comprise about 10% to 20% titanium oxide abrasive in a binder of synthetic urea-resin. 
     
     
         6 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising operating the vibratory finishing machine for a period of 45 to 60 minutes. 
     
     
         7 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising applying flush water to the vibratory media at a rate of about 0.35-0.50 gallons per hour per cubic foot of volume of the finishing media. 
     
     
         8 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein operating the vibratory finishing machine comprises rotating a drive shaft, coupled to the trough, the drive shaft having offset counterweights that cause an approximately 10% eccentric rotation of the drive shaft. 
     
     
         9 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising adjusting the vibrational frequency of the vibratory finishing machine. 
     
     
         10 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising refreshing the vibratory media by removing worn particles below about ½″ in size and replacing the worn particles with a comparable volume of particles of 1″ to 2½″ in size. 
     
     
         11 . A method for finishing composite laminate parts, comprising:
 placing particles of a vibratory media, comprising titanium oxide abrasive in a synthetic acrylic binder, into a trough of a vibratory finishing machine;   placing a composite laminate part into the trough and substantially immersed in the particles of vibratory media;   applying flush water to the vibratory media at a rate of about 0.35-0.50 gallons per hour per cubic foot of volume of the finishing media; and   operating the vibratory finishing machine, with the vibratory media and composite laminate part disposed in the trough, at a vibrational frequency of 40 Hz to 50 Hz via a rotating shaft having an approximately 10% eccentric rotation, for a period of 45 to 60 minutes.   
     
     
         12 . A method in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the particles of vibratory media range in size from about ¼″ to about 2½″ and have a specific gravity of about 1.5 to about 2.0. 
     
     
         13 . A method in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the particles of vibratory media have a sectional density approximately equal to a sectional density of the composite laminate part. 
     
     
         14 . A method in accordance with  claim 11 , further comprising refreshing the vibratory media by removing particles below about ½″ in size and replacing a comparable volume of particles of 1″ to 2½″ in size. 
     
     
         15 . A method in accordance with  claim 11 , further comprising removing the part from the trough and rinsing the part with water. 
     
     
         16 . A system for finishing composite laminate parts, comprising:
 a vibratory finishing machine, having a trough of suitable volume to contain a composite laminate part, configured to vibrate at a frequency of 40 Hz to 50 Hz;   a volume of vibratory media particles, disposed in the trough, comprising titanium oxide abrasive in a synthetic binder; and   a water inlet, configured to provide process water into the trough while the vibratory finishing machine is vibrating with the composite laminate part substantially immersed in the vibratory media particles, whereby the composite laminate part is substantially deburred through contact with the vibratory media particles.   
     
     
         17 . A system in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein the vibratory media particles range in size from ¼″ to about 2½″ and have a specific gravity of about 1.5 to about 2.0. 
     
     
         18 . A system in accordance with  claim 16 , further comprising a speed adjustment mechanism, configured to allow adjustment of the vibrational frequency of the vibratory finishing machine. 
     
     
         19 . A system in accordance with  claim 16 , further comprising a rotating a drive shaft, coupled to the trough, rotatable at about 2700 RPM, having offset counterweights that cause an approximately 10% eccentric rotation of the drive shaft. 
     
     
         20 . A system in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein the water inlet is configured to apply flush water at a rate of up to about 0.5 gallons per hour per cubic foot of volume of the finishing media, and further comprising a water outlet, disposed in the trough, configured to drain flush water from the trough.