The Application of Zeeko Polishing Technology to Freeform Femoral Knee Replacement Component Manufacture

The use of freeform designs in engineering surfaces has become increasingly popular overthe last decade. Applications of freeform shapes range from aesthetics of components to thebending of light rays through advanced optic designs. The fabrication of the components forthese applications requires submicrometre form accuracy, in some cases with surfaceroughness at nanometric levels. Ultraprecision polishing is an emerging technology for the THE APPLICATION OF ZEEKO POLISHING TECHNOLOGY TO FREEFORMFEMORAL KNEE REPLACEMENT COMPONENT MANUFACTURE SELECTED LIST OF PUBLICATIONS 209fabrication of high-precision and high-quality freeform surfaces. However, the factorsaffecting nanosurface generation in ultraprecision polishing have received relatively littleattention. Moreover, the quality of the polished surface relies heavily on appropriate selectionof process conditions and polishing strategies. This paper presents an analytical study of thefactors affecting surface generation in ultraprecision polishing. A series of polishingexperiments have been designed and undertaken, allowing the relationships between variousfactors and the surface quality of the workpiece to be determined. The results of the studyprovide a better understanding of nanosurface generation, as well as the strategy foroptimizing surface quality, in the ultraprecision polishing of freeform surfaces. 3. P.A. Knox, P.Charlton, T.Laoui, Gillian Pearce, Liam Blunt; The significance ofsample preparation when testing surface coatings for orthopaedic implants; 8thInternational Conference and Exhibition on Laser Metrology, Machine Tool, CMM& Robotic Performance p.270-278, Cardiff University, Wales , 25th-28th June 2007