Study of Magnetorheological Brush Finishing (MRBF) for Concave Surface of Conformal Optics

To overcome difficulties in figuring and finishing concave surfaces of conformal optics, we invent Magnetorheological Brush Finishing (MRBF), a flexible method developed from the present MRF technique. The circulated magnetorheological fluid is extruded through the channel of the high speed spinning soft ferromagnetic spindle to form a conformable lap exerting shear stress over the concave surface in the presence of external magnetic field, so as to finish the entire concave surface with the spindle swinging and the workpiece rotating. We have established the MRBF experimental platform, developed the controlling algorithm for MRBF, and proved MRBF performance of figuring and finishing concave surface by experiments as well.