Proceedings of the International MultiConference of Engineers and Computer Scientists 2011 Vol II, IMECS 2011, March 16 - 18, 2011, Hong Kong Parameter Optimization and Development of Prediction Model for Second Generation Magnetic Abrasive Polishing of AZ31B Plate Jae-Seob Kwak, Chang-Min Shin Abstract—A conventional magnetic abrasive polishing (MAP) is not suitable for non-magnetic materials. The system with a electro-magnet array table installed under the working area of the non-magnetic material, which is called second generation MAP in this study, can help to enhance the magnetic force. Experimental evaluation and optimization of process parameters for MAP of AZ31B plate that is one of the non-magnetic materials were performed by a design of experiments and the response surface method. As a result, it is indicated that magnetic force intensity of magnetic table and spindle speed of inductor were significant parameters on improvement of surface roughness in the second generation MAP process. Therefore, prediction model of surface roughness was developed using second-order response surface method and signal to noise ratio. Index Terms—Second generation MAP, Electro-magnet array table, Response surface model I. INTRODUCTION M AGNESIUM alloys are the lightest currently used as structural metals and honored as the 21st century green structural material. Owing to many advantages such as excellent mechanical properties, good machinability, good electromagnetic shielding characteristic and high dimensional stability, magnesium alloys have great application potential in aerospace, automobile and electronic device fields [1-4]. With the development of these industries, more precise surface of magnesium materials is naturally needed to meet the high quality of products. However, there are some limitations in producing good surface for magnesium materials due to fundamental problems such as flammability hazard and fragility properties. [5] Magnetic abrasive polishing (MAP) was proposed as one of non-traditional techniques to overcome these difficulties. [6] In the MAP process, a polishing tool that consists of ferrous particles and non-ferrous abrasives under silicone oil medium has flexibility. This flexible tool can remove a very small amount of materials from a workpiece and then a better surface can be produced without damages on the surface.[7] Nevertheless, it is very difficult to adopt MAP for polishing of non-magnetic materials because magnetic force on the J. S. Kwak Department of Mechanical Engineering Pukyong National University Nam-Gu, Busan, South Korea (phone: +82-51-629-6139; e-mail: