Ultra-precision finishing for the femoral head of the artificial hip joint by means of abrasive waterjet

The paper deals with an ultra-precision finishing method up to 7nm Ra surface roughness for a femoral head of an artificial hip joint by means of abrasive waterjet. The proposed finishing method is as follows. Abrasive particles are mixed in the water of the machining chamber beforehand. Then, high pressured water jet shoots out under the water to the workpiece in a tangential manner. Abrasive particles gather around the machining point. The workpiece rotates under the abrasive mixed water. The proposed method is advantageous from the viewpoints of nozzle wear and abrasive reuse as well as ultra fine particle use.