Re-Thinking Conventional Rules & Limitations
Mikronite's patented high energy agitation technique, embodies
a string of technologies that operate both synergistically and
independently to polish a wide variety of materials to extremely
fine surface finishes, typically less than 1 micrometer, regardless
of the complexity of the geometry. Materials that can be polished
successfully include monocrystalline and polycrystalline ceramics,
metals (including those with soft or malleable surfaces such as
titanium), and plastics. Through control of a fluidized bath of
selected materials and the
sinusoidal lapping motion generated
by specialized equipment, we have the capability of exerting
forces in excess of 30g's while completely supporting even the
most brittle or malleable of products.
The technology
produces extreme changes in surface finish and structure on the
molecular level which provides a strain hardened surface and subsurface
known as controlled
cold plastic deformation so subtle no dimensional
change is made to the materials geometry. Surface characteristics
can benefit from increased dislocation density, increased hardness, and a barrier formation to prevent slip planes from
passing grain to grain (thus migrating
slip planes ,
optimizing grain patterns, hardness, and
corrosion resistance) which ultimately creates a micro consistent
or
isotropic surface that reduces stress and vibrations.
This patented
technology has applications in countless fields where surface
finish, work piece configuration, lubricity, and product longevity
are critical. As an added bonus, the part can be brought to a high
polish and surface imperfections truly removed. A simple and proven
application of this technology would be a ball bearing where its
sphericity can be improved to near perfection while hardening
the surface through cold plastic deformation, improving lubricity,
and if required allowing for a unified layer of oil or grease
to be retained on the bearing creating a
hydrodynamic layer between
it and another surface. This benefit is not limited to the ball;
it can be applied on both the inner and outer race of the bearing.
All conventional rules and limitations of mass finishing must
be re-thought. The MIKRONITE® system operates at multiple
times more power than anything preceding it. In addition, the
process is so specific that it can produce change on only a one
molecule thick layer or be optimized to create much deeper cold
plastic deformation, lending applications to semiconductor,
MEMS ,
and lens polishing. Even the most expensive devices like
silicon wafers notorious for their brittleness, can be safely
processed at full power with no breakage. The value of
improving materials to perform to expected engineered standards
cannot be over emphasized.
Our extensive experience in the cutting
tool industry has proven that with no change to material composition
or geometry, the MIKRONITE® process can take a standard cutting
tool and give life improvements up to 300% or more.
With our current level
of energy and precision already setting every new standard of
particle control, energy multiplication, and robust manufacturing
capability, we have developed several series of machine systems and
proprietary media. Through these systems we are reinventing the
engineers' choice of processing technology and often material choices.
With the highest quality product at the most affordable cost,
a MIKRONITE® system user becomes a natural market leader.
Overview