Systems and methods are provided for viscous and/or chemically erosive flow machining of work pieces. In certain examples, a tool for flow machining may be disclosed. The tool may include a cavity configured to receive a work piece and one or more inlets and outlets for viscous media flow. Viscous media and/or chemically erosive media can be flowed into the cavity and, via a media flow path, can be used to machine the work piece.

A displacement magnifying mechanism, polishing device, actuator, electronic component processing apparatus, dispenser, and air valve which can easily control a drive system. The displacement magnifying mechanism includes a base; a piezoelectric element of which an end is attached to a mounting surface of the base, the piezoelectric element extending along a first longitudinal direction; a support member of which an end is attached to the mounting surface side by side with the piezoelectric element, the support member extending along a second longitudinal direction which intersects with the first longitudinal direction; an operating portion attached to each of other ends of the piezoelectric element and the support member to allow the operating portion to be displaced, in response to an expansion/contraction of the piezoelectric element, along a displacement direction; and a compression member attached to the base and the operating portion so as to compress the piezoelectric element.

A device for holding in position a product to be processed includes a base connectable by magnetic interaction to a work surface of an apparatus for tumbling or polishing and comprising a first portion and a second portion movable along an operating direction mutually towards or away from a first and a second operating position. The device also includes a retaining support connected to the base and configured to hold in a stable position a product to be processed between a first and a second retaining element. Between the first and the second portion of the base an actuation member is interposed, configured to move the same portions between the first operating position and the second operating position. A method for holding in position a product to be processed is also disclosed.

Disclosed is a flow lapping device for smoothing at least one surface of at least one workpiece, preferably an impeller, by an abrasive fluid including at least one holding device for holding the workpiece, in particular including at least one holding plate, as well as at least one encasing device arranged around the holding device and within which the fluid can flow, wherein the holding device is at least partially supported, in particular fixed, by at least one inner wall section of the encasing device.

The present invention relates to a method for smoothing a surface of a component, in which a component is placed in a liquid-solids mixture; a relative movement is produced between the liquid-solids mixture and the component; thus there is a flow of the liquid-solids mixture along the surface; wherein there is provided in the liquid-solids mixture a guide surface, along which the liquid-solids mixture flows, wherein a directional component toward the surface is imposed on the flow.

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.

Vibratory treatment apparatus including a first receptacle arranged to receive media for vibratory treatment of the article, the first receptacle defining a first aperture; and a first valve positioned at the first aperture of the first receptacle, the first valve being arranged to allow passage of the article there through and to prevent the flow of media through the first aperture.

A vibropeening apparatus comprises a main frame, an enclosure receivable within the main frame, a rotary drive mechanism, and an article to be vibropeened. The enclosure defines an internal volume, the internal volume accommodating a vibropeening bed. The article is positioned within the internal volume, and the rotary drive mechanism is to configured to impart a rotary motion to the enclosure within the main frame.

A method and apparatus for vibro-treating an object. The method includes the steps of controlling a relative displacement between a vibro-treating media and a surface area of the object to provide a vibro-treating effect; and, controlling movement of the object relative to a surface of the vibro-treating media whilst controlling relative displacement between the vibro-treating media and the surface area of the object, according to one or more pre-determined conditions, to provide a substantially even vibro-treating condition over the surface area of the object.

A method for smoothing and polishing metals via ion transport by free solid bodies. The method includes connecting a part to be treated to a pole of a current generator and subjecting the part to friction with a set of particles that includes electrically charged and electrically conductive free solid bodies in a gaseous environment.