“Soft Skin” on Technical Surfaces

The Soft Skin on workpiece surfaces is a thin layer of metal which is changed in condition and quality because of the local high temperature from the linear contact between grinding disc and surface.

The high temperature from grinding process will burn the first 2 - 3 µm of the material to a verry low hardness.

There are also negative residual stresses in the surface created by a high machining contact temperature.

MICROFINISH or SUPERFINISH removes the soft skin by a sufficient stock removal and increases the useful compressive residual stress and improves the load capacity and the life of the components.