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Innovator Biography

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96022

Materials and Manufacturing

Dr. C. Richard Liu is a Professor and Director of Global Programs in the School ofIndustrial Engineering at Purdue University. Dr. Liu's research focuses on thedevelopment of high-rate nanomanufacturing methods and the study of therelationships among structure, property, performance, and the manufacturingprocesses for engineering cost-effective nanostructured materials and energy devices.Dr. Liu has been recognized with many awards for his contribution in creatinglarge-scale benefit for industrial competitiveness through developing innovativetechnology. A few such awards include the IR100 Award, ASME Ennor Award, andthe SME Research Application Award.

Most bearing manufacturers use an eight-step process to manufacture bearing racesthat includes forming, annealing, turning, hardening, double disk grinding, cylindricalgrinding, centerless grinding, and abrasive-based superfinishing. This process is costlyand provides little control over residual stresses.

Researchers at Purdue University have developed a unique approach formanufacturing bearing races using a single-step, superfinish, hard-turning process.This manufacturing process involves only three process steps including forming,hardening, and hard turning. The cutting parameters for hard turning are optimizedthrough a calibrated analysis of the manufacturing processes and expected end-useconditions. This process improves bearing life between 30 to 3,000 percent,depending on load conditions. In addition, this process can provide a surfaceroughness of less than 7 min and a surface waviness of less than 60 min. Finally, allgrinding operations can be eliminated by using this process.

Advantages:-Increased bearing life-Simplified manufacturing-Grinding operations are eliminated

Superfinish Hard Turning for Bearing Races