Key Technologies of Horizontal Vibration-assisted Rotary Barrel Finishing for Bearing Rings in Floating Clamps

LI Xuenan; SHI Huiting; LI Xiuhong; YANG Shengqiang

doi:10.16490/j.cnki.issn.1001-3660.2026.07.006

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Surface Technology ›› 2026, Vol. 55 ›› Issue (7) : 58-70. DOI: 10.16490/j.cnki.issn.1001-3660.2026.07.006

Precision and Ultra-precision Machining

Key Technologies of Horizontal Vibration-assisted Rotary Barrel Finishing for Bearing Rings in Floating Clamps

LI Xuenan^1,a, SHI Huiting^1,b,*, LI Xiuhong², YANG Shengqiang²

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Abstract

The work aims to enhance the rotary barrel finishing for bearing rings in floating clamp (RBF-FC) process through superposition to the horizontal vibration assistance. With the rapid development of modern high-end equipment such as automotive, aerospace and high-end machine tools, there is an urgent need for processing and manufacturing high-performance bearing rings, which can support the normal operation of rotating machinery. RBF-FC, an overall finishing process, has a low processing efficiency and poor surface quality although it can realize surface finishing simultaneously and clamping without damage. During the RBF-FC process, the granular media flow relatively stereotypes due to the simple rotational motion of barrel wall, which is difficult to affect the inactive region in media flow. In this work, horizontal vibration-assisted finishing is employed to improve the finishing efficiency of the RBF-FC process. This configuration induces great variations in the granular media flow, allowing the granular media to exhibit more active status. Consequently, the relative motion between media and workpiece surfaces is enhanced, ultimately increasing the finishing capability.
The objective of optimizing the RBF-FC process is to elevate surface quality and enhance the finishing efficiency. A comprehensive analysis is performed to evaluate the effects of vibration parameters within the horizontal vibration-assisted RBF-FC. Vibration parameters under scrutiny include amplitude and frequency, which are assessed for their effects on granular media flow behavior by Discrete Element Method (DEM) simulation. It is observed that an increase in the amplitude or frequency leads to a gradual reduction in static region and low-speed region, while simultaneously increasing the active region. The movement of the media is more complex and activated, which can obtain greater kinetic energy. Furthermore, the erosion effect of media flow on inner surface and outer surface is also explored under different vibration strength, which can be defined as the ratio of vibration acceleration to that of gravity. An increase in vibration strength induces a gradual rise in both impact velocity and impact angle of the media on the surfaces. The above corresponding simulation results are verified by the contact pressure measurement with pressure-sensitive paper. The device of horizontal vibration-assisted RBF-FC is designed and built. Optimal process parameters are attained with an amplitude of 6 mm, a frequency of 15 Hz (vibration acceleration of 5.44 g), and a finishing duration of 60 min. Under these conditions, the surface roughness of inner surface and outer surface is reduced from S_a=0.483 μm and S_a=0.611 μm to S_a=0.261 μm and S_a=0.488 μm, respectively. The hardness of inner surface and outer surface increases from 3.71 GPa and 3.22 GPa to 6.12 GPa and 4.74 GPa, respectively. The elasticity modulus of inner surface and outer surface increases from 113 GPa and 120 GPa to 153 GPa and 152 GPa, respectively.
The horizontal vibration-assisted RBF-FC process has been demonstrated to significantly improve the finishing efficiency and to augment the surface quality of workpieces, providing a new approach and theoretical basis for the processing of high-performance bearing rings.

Key words

overall finishing / vibration-assisted / DEM simulation / granular media flow / erosion behavior / surface quality

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LI Xuenan, SHI Huiting, LI Xiuhong, YANG Shengqiang. Key Technologies of Horizontal Vibration-assisted Rotary Barrel Finishing for Bearing Rings in Floating Clamps[J]. Surface Technology. 2026, 55(7): 58-70

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Funding

The Scientific and Technological Innovation Programs of Higher Education Institutions in Shanxi (2025L067); Taiyuan University of Science and Technology Scientific Research Initial Funding (20252093); Fundamental Research Program of Shanxi Province (202303021212218); Excellent Doctor to Shanxi Research Funding Project (20232072)