0 Introduction

With the development of industry, the precision and complexity of machining are continuously improving, especially with the advent of microcomputers, which have been widely applied in the field of industrial control, greatly enhancing processing efficiency, allowing machining to operate automatically, and possessing a certain level of intelligence. When problems arise, some issues can be resolved through the built-in expert system within the system. These technological advancements are all aimed at improving the precision and efficiency of machining. From the development of machining, it can be seen that the biggest difference in mechanical products from different periods lies in the precision of processing. For example, in today's daily life, many miniature and complex mechanical products can often be seen. The manufacturing process of such products inevitably requires the use of precision machining technology. Whether in large mechanical products like automobiles or miniature mechanical products like clocks, polishing processes are required. The more precise the mechanical product, the higher the requirements for the polishing process. Therefore, to improve the level of precision machining, it is essential to first study the application of polishing processes.
 

1 Overview of Precision Machining Technology

1.1 Concept of Precision Machining Technology

In different periods, the concept of precision machining technology also has certain differences, with the main difference reflected in surface roughness. This standard is only a temporary standard; as machining levels improve, the precision of precision machining will certainly be greatly enhanced. From the development of machining, it can be seen that in the early stages of industrial development, large mechanical products like automobiles could be called precision machining. In addition to the fineness of processing, the latest concept also includes processing efficiency. In the past, to improve processing accuracy, a larger workload was required, which inevitably consumed more time, thus reducing processing efficiency. This clearly does not align with the current situation of industrial development. Therefore, in the latest concept, while promoting the advancement of processing precision, it is also necessary to promote the advancement of processing efficiency. There are many methods for precision machining, such as polishing cloth wheels and belt grinding. Generally, precision machining technology promotes improvements in precision and efficiency through the updating of processing equipment.
 

1.2 Characteristics of Precision Machining

Compared with ordinary machining, precision machining not only has higher requirements for processing precision but also has certain improvements in processing efficiency, which aligns with the current development trend of mechanical manufacturing. With the development of the machining field, both the equipment and technology are continuously advancing, providing a foundation for progress in the mechanical field. The accuracy and efficiency of processing are gradually improving, leading to the formation of the concept of precision machining. Thus, it can be seen that the first characteristic of precision machining is its continuous progress. The precision machining technology improves over time, with processing precision continuously increasing. Secondly, in the processing of different mechanical products, precision machining will exhibit different forms. For example, in the processing of coated abrasives, belt grinding has high processing precision and efficiency. It is precisely because of these characteristics of belt grinding that it has been widely applied in precision machining. However, currently, the production technology of belt grinding equipment is mostly held by foreign companies, while domestic belt grinding machines are still in their infancy, with lower automation levels and certain quality differences compared to foreign products. To improve the production level of machining equipment in our country, it must be based on the characteristics of precision machining.
 

1.3 Surface Treatment Technology in Precision Machining

In machining, surface treatment technology has always been valued. Surface treatment not only relates to the aesthetics of the product but also imparts certain functional characteristics to the material's surface. Generally, there are two methods of surface treatment technology: the first is to add some covering layer to the surface, and the second is to change the shape and composition of the material's surface using physical and chemical means. In specific machining processes, physical operations can be used to add a layer of material with special properties to the surface of components; thermal treatment and other techniques can also be used to change the shape and composition of the material's surface. However, before carrying out such surface treatment technology, the surface of the material must first be polished. Only when the smoothness of the material's surface reaches a certain standard can the next processing step be carried out. Thus, polishing is the first and very important step in the surface treatment of machining.
 

2 Application of Polishing Process in Precision Machining

2.1 Concept of Polishing Process

In machining, polishing refers to the use of certain equipment to treat the surface of components, thereby reducing the surface roughness of the components. This processing technique is known as polishing. In actual processing, polishing cannot improve the geometric dimensions and precision of components; it is merely a processing technique aimed at the surface of components. In addition to making the workpiece surface smoother, sometimes it is necessary to eliminate the gloss of the workpiece surface, which can also be achieved through polishing. With the development of polishing technology, techniques such as chemical polishing and CMP polishing have emerged. Utilizing these advanced polishing processes has greatly improved the smoothness of the processed parts' surfaces and, to a certain extent, increased processing efficiency, especially with the use of polishing machines, which allows polishing to be automated, minimizing manual operation. The precision of current machining has reached the micron level, making it impossible for the naked eye to observe directly. Relying on manual operation is clearly insufficient for processing; therefore, current polishing processes are moving towards automation and intelligence. Intelligent polishing processes need to be established on a platform that combines technologies from various fields, with computer technology being an essential technology. Additionally, mechanical processing technology is required, as polishing technology is generally mainly applied in mechanical reprocessing. For the current polishing technology, there is still significant development potential, and it can continuously integrate new technologies in the future to improve the existing shortcomings in polishing technology. Of course, to make polishing technology more practical and effective, further development of technology is needed to better meet the needs of modern and future technological fields.

2.2 Application of Polishing Process in Precision Machining

In traditional machining, due to lower precision requirements, the original manual polishing method was used. As industrial levels have improved, people have had higher demands for machinery, leading to the emergence of machining methods. Compared to manual polishing, these machine tools significantly improve processing precision, and semi-automated processing methods greatly enhance polishing efficiency. Therefore, mechanical polishing has been widely applied in actual processing. However, in today's development of mechanical products towards complexity and precision, the surface mirror brightness and level of components processed by mechanical polishing do not meet the product standards. To meet the polishing requirements in precision machining, Lapping is now used in processing. With this method, the surface precision of workpieces can reach 2 microns, and roughness can reach Ra0.01 microns, fully satisfying the standards of modern precision machining. Lapping is very convenient to use; for example, the commonly used zirconia abrasive can exist in three states: liquid, paste, and solid, depending on the ratio of auxiliary materials. The liquid abrasive can be used directly for polishing, while paste and solid abrasives can be diluted with water to become liquid or used directly. In the actual polishing process, a specific abrasive should be chosen based on the shape and material of the processed components. During polishing, a certain polishing agent needs to be added to ensure the polishing effect in the later stages. Additionally, modern polishing technology is gradually maturing and being applied in mechanical production, becoming the mainstream polishing technology today. Furthermore, for mechanical reprocessing, as more precision machining is required, the smoothness of mechanical surfaces is increasingly demanded, leading to technological innovations in polishing processes. In summary, polishing technology occupies a very mainstream position in mechanical reprocessing and can improve the machining effect of machinery to a certain extent.

 

3. Conclusion

Polishing, as an important process in machining, has been valued since traditional machining. With industrial development, mechanical products have become increasingly complex and precise, raising higher demands for polishing processes. Therefore, polishing technology has evolved from primitive manual processing to mechanical processing, meeting the needs of mass production while also improving processing precision to a certain extent. Through the analysis of the entire text, it can be seen that polishing technology holds a very important position in precision machining. The widely used Lapping can simultaneously improve polishing processing precision and efficiency, and based on the characteristics of the polished workpieces, targeted choices can be made for liquid, paste, or solid abrasives.