Causes of Unsatisfactory Cylinder Honing Results
Are you wondering why your new hydraulic cylinder honing equipment is producing unsatisfactory results? Read on and discover some of the factors that you need to investigate in order to improve your honing outcomes.
The Honing Fluid Used
Honing fluid is meant to do more than just cool the honing tools and the surfaces that are being honed. The fluid is expected to react with the material being honed so that chips are quickly removed before they scratch the internal surface of the hydraulic cylinder. You should therefore examine the chemical blend of the fluid that you are using so that you confirm that it is the right one for the material from which your hydraulic cylinder was made. You can even try switching from honing oil to water-based honing fluids in order to select the one that gives you better results.
Grit Size
Honing tools work based on the size of the grit on their stones. A larger grit size will produce a surface finish that is rougher than the surface finish produced by a stone with a smaller grit size. You may therefore need to vary the grit on your honing tool in order to achieve better results. For instance, you can start with stones that have larger grits when you have just started honing the cylinder. Thereafter, switch to stones with smaller grits in order to complete the honing process.
The Type of Grit
Your unsatisfactory results may also be caused by using the wrong type of grit during honing operations. For example, abrasive grits made from aluminium oxide may not give satisfactory results if they are used to hone a cylinder that is made from cast iron. However, that same grit will produce excellent results when used on steel cylinders. You should therefore refer to the data sheets provided by your supplier of honing equipment in order to select the most appropriate type of grit for a given honing application.
The Cutting Pressure
The cutting pressure that is exerted upon the stone in the honing machine can affect the quality of the finished work. Abnormally high cutting pressure produces a rough finish while low pressure causes the finished cylinder to have a smooth surface. Modern honing machines automatically reduce the cutting pressure as the cylinder begins to have the desired internal finish. Check the settings of your machine in order to confirm that this feature is active. You can also adjust the cutting pressure manually in case your equipment doesn't have an automated system to adjust the cutting pressure.
Effective hydraulic cylinder honing is a skill that can be perfected over time. It may therefore be helpful for you to watch an experienced technician as he or she works so that you can learn the subtle details involved in this task. You will then implement the same techniques as you work on your own.
