Described are finishing mediums for removing support material and/or for surface finishing of objects made via additive manufacturing techniques. The finishing medium is an aqueous solution containing 1-20% by weight a polyol, 1-20% by weight an anti-corrosion agent, 0.001-10% by weight a hydrotrope. The finishing medium may optionally suspend media particles, thereby forming a finishing suspension. Also described are methods of using the finishing media and finishing suspensions described herein.

A method for treating wooden barrels, including a step of spraying a grit-based and/or a slag-based abrasive onto at least one portion of the inside surface of a wooden barrel to remove a damaged layer to separate the grit and/or slag from other residues.

A method and apparatus for processing a metallic workpiece with defined edges (e.g., a gear) comprises media blasting of the workpiece by directing a first media against exposed surfaces on the workpiece to increase the root strength of the gear, the blasting causing the defined edges to be radiused or mushroomed, ceasing the media blasting, loading the workpiece into a finishing apparatus, and subjecting the workpiece to a finishing process with a second media, the exposed surfaces on the workpiece being subjected to the finishing process to reduce the radiused edges on the workpiece created from the media blasting. The process of moving the workpiece to the spindle-finishing apparatus from the media blasting may be performed automatically by a machine. Once the workpiece has been subjected to the finishing process with the second media, it may be removed from the spindle-finishing machine, washed, and rinsed with rust inhibitor whereby wear properties of the workpiece are enhanced.

A hydrodynamically optimized mixer module, to be coupled to a deterministic hydrodynamic tool that allows pulsed polishing of optical surfaces is described. This module allows the supply of abrasive foam or fluid that enters the tool to be interrupted without impairing the operational stability of the polishing process and of said hydrodynamic tool. The mixer module includes at least one interrupter element for switching high-velocity fluids; a first inlet through which air is injected under pressure and in a controlled manner; a second inlet through which a polishing fluid is injected in a controlled manner, said polishing fluid filling a predetermined volume with a hydrodynamically optimized shape and being transferred to a mixing zone where, together with the pressure-injected air, an abrasive foam is produced that is injected into at least one rotational acceleration chamber of the hydrodynamic tool to which the mixer module is coupled.

A hydrodynamically optimized mixer module, to be coupled to a deterministic hydrodynamic tool that allows pulsed polishing of optical surfaces is described. This module allows the supply of abrasive foam or fluid that enters the tool to be interrupted without impairing the operational stability of the polishing process and of said hydrodynamic tool. The mixer module includes at least one interrupter element for switching high-velocity fluids; a first inlet through which air is injected under pressure and in a controlled manner; a second inlet through which a polishing fluid is injected in a controlled manner, said polishing fluid filling a predetermined volume with a hydrodynamically optimized shape and being transferred to a mixing zone where, together with the pressure-injected air, an abrasive foam is produced that is injected into at least one rotational acceleration chamber of the hydrodynamic tool to which the mixer module is coupled.

A process for manufacturing corrosion resistant metal components is disclosed. The process comprises abrasive blasting of a silicon-containing steel substrate followed by hot dip galvanizing, a second abrasive blasting process, treating with a mineral acid, and coating with a polymeric coating. The resulting corrosion resistance is enhanced.

A process for manufacturing corrosion resistant metal components is disclosed. The process comprises abrasive blasting of a silicon-containing steel substrate followed by hot dip galvanizing, a second abrasive blasting process, treating with a mineral acid, and coating with a polymeric coating. The resulting corrosion resistance is enhanced.

Methods, apparatus, and systems for magnetic field assisted abrasive finishing of a workpiece are provided. A stationary electromagnetic array comprised of iron core electromagnets is positioned adjacent a workpiece to generate a dynamic magnetic field. A control system is adapted to be programmed to selectively energize the electromagnets of the stationary electromagnetic array to generate the dynamic magnetic field. The dynamic magnetic field may comprise one of a rotating magnetic field, an oscillating magnetic field, or a designated pattern. A plurality of magnetic abrasive particles is also provided. A jig is provided to position the stationary electromagnetic array relative to the workpiece. The plurality of magnetic abrasive particles are introduced into the dynamic magnetic field and are caused to move relative to a surface of the workpiece by the dynamic magnetic field.

Methods, apparatus, and systems for magnetic field assisted abrasive finishing of a workpiece are provided. A stationary electromagnetic array comprised of iron core electromagnets is positioned adjacent a workpiece to generate a dynamic magnetic field. A control system is adapted to be programmed to selectively energize the electromagnets of the stationary electromagnetic array to generate the dynamic magnetic field. The dynamic magnetic field may comprise one of a rotating magnetic field, an oscillating magnetic field, or a designated pattern. A plurality of magnetic abrasive particles is also provided. A jig is provided to position the stationary electromagnetic array relative to the workpiece. The plurality of magnetic abrasive particles are introduced into the dynamic magnetic field and are caused to move relative to a surface of the workpiece by the dynamic magnetic field.

Systems for managing abrasive media in cavitated fluid include a set of sensors in communication with cavitated fluid in a processing tank and a processor coupled to the set of sensors. The processor is configured to determine a density of an abrasive media in the cavitated fluid in the processing tank and facilitate maintaining the density of abrasive media in the cavitated fluid in the processing tank at a level that is greater than or equal to a threshold level of abrasive media. The processor is further configured to command the abrasive media addition device to add the recycled abrasive media to the processing tank to increase the density of abrasive media in the cavitated fluid in response to determining that an average density of abrasive media is less than the threshold density of abrasive media.