A common inquiry we receive goes something like this:
"I want to polish my gears to a chrome like finish I think this is called rem, how do I do that in your machines?"
Great, we get it, polished metal gears look awesome but there are some things you need to know before you start investing in your own equipment for this very specific, specialized, and costly process.
REM™ finishing is not a standard (low cost) vibratory process
It is a highly specialized vibratory process that uses specialized chemicals in a two step setup
What is REM™ Isotropic Super Finishing (ISF®) (from a great article over at VAC Motorsports)
REM™ treatment is a proprietary process which eliminates the imperfections left over by the machining process. In very simplified terms, the “peaks” left on metal parts by various manufacturing processes are removed using vibratory equipment in conjunction with patented solutions to speed up the process.
Although the result of the REM™ process is a beautiful finish, it is Important to realize that the system does not polish the part. The process involves two steps. The first, referred to as the refinement process involves a chemical interaction on the surface of the part. A soft, thin (one micron) film is formed on the surface of the part. The part interacts with the ceramic media in a special vibratory tub, this film is physically removed from the “peaks” of the processed part and the “valleys” are unaffected. The chemically induced film re-forms only at the peaks that are interacting with the vibratory media, and the process repeats itself. Over time, the peaks are removed, leaving only the valleys, producing the improved micro finish. The second step is referred to as the burnish process. After the required micro finish is achieved, a mild alkaline mixture is introduced. After a relatively short period a polished, chrome-like finish is produced. In addition to the polishing effects, this step effectively removes all traces of the film formation from the refinement process.
The result is a much more uniform surface that provides many impressive benefits for motorsports, including:
- Reduced Friction
- Lower Operating Temperatures
- Extended Component Life
- Reduced Noise
- Increased Efficiency
- More Power To The Ground
How is this different from standard vibratory finishing?
While the machinery and medias are mostly very similar, the main differences are the compounds and chemicals. For standard vibratory burnishing process, an alkaline or acidic tumbling compound is used. These are low cost and available from us or other mass finishing suppliers in small quantities.
The REM™ processing compounds are high cost, proprietary, require special handling and disposal, and only typically available in large 55 gallon drums
Standard burnishing process from C&M Topline can result in a bright and shiny part when the parts are processed correctly, it does not result in a chrome like finish nor does it impart the thin film that at a microscopic level, results in extremely low friction.
If REM™ is what you are after please contact our friends over at Weddle Industries Inc
If you would like to discuss further or have more questions please contact us at info@cmtopline.com