Planetary rotation barrel polishing is a polishing method of using a turning radius several times that of the rotating barrel and 180~250rpm speed, where the polished objects are centrifugally pushed towards the inner wall of the barrel at its circumferential limits.

[Fig.1] shows the flow of the polished parts within the barrel.

The polished parts and the abrasives are friction polished by the effects of centrifugal force and many specific characteristics can be seen. For instance, the polishing amount increases rapidly in proportion to the processing time duration, several multiple of ten times that of standard barrel polishing.

Also, ultra small parts and thin plate parts can be polished, as well as mirror surface finishing of soft metals became possible.

With this polishing method, soft aluminum parts became possible to be precision polished. Also, pressed parts and die-cast precision gears are polished this way, especially for ornamental gloss surface finishing this is replacing buff polishing. [Fig.2] shows an external appearance of a planetary rotation barrel polishing machine.

Some polishing stone (abrasive) types, principle components, and applications are shown in [Table 1] below.

[Table 1] Polishing stone types and applications