# Computer-Aided Analysis of the Formation of the Deformation Zone in the Burnishing Process
## 5 Conclusions  
The subject of the research was a computer-aided analysis of the focus of deformation in the mechanical burnishing process. The topics resulted directly from the industry needs. Burnishing is commonly used to change the properties of the surface layer, with particular emphasis on its strengthening. As the research has shown, the geometric parameters of the deformation centre are influenced by the conditions related to the processed material and the surface roughness parameters prior to processing, as well as the shape (type of tool) and technological parameters of the burnishing treatment process. The deformed material is displaced both in the axial direction (in the direction of feed of the burnishing element and in the direction opposite to it) and in the circumferential direction. In accordance with computer-aided analyses, the most important factor for the final effects of the tested process is the flow of the material in the axial direction, which determines the final stereometry of the surface obtained as a result of burnishing. The measurement results showed that the deformation process can occur in the part of the material covering only the roughness peaks remaining after the previous processing (which leads only to partial smoothing of the roughness peaks). When the burnishing forces are further increased, a material wave appears and grows, which (after reaching a certain force value depending on the material and burnishing parameters) exceeds the height of the roughness peaks remaining after the previous processing. In these conditions, a typical deformation centre (so-called type III deformation centre) for stable burnishing conditions, described in the literature, is created [3; 4; 32]. Achieving this type of deformation focus is the most appropriate process to obtain the correct properties of the surface layer obtained as a result of burnishing. This is the most important goal of properly performed burnishing. A further increase in the burnishing force and the associated increase in the growing wave of deformation leads to damage to the formed surface layer and disruption of the degree and uniformity of microhardness. Therefore, it should not be used in practice. Unfortunately, in industrial conditions, the \"trial and error\" method is used to determine the correct technological parameters of the burnishing process. The considerations presented in the article and the use of computer technology will contribute to the optimization of machining. The analysis of many images and charts obtained using several methods (profilographometer, microscope, roundness gauge) of the stereometry of the deformation centre and machining burnished surfaces with various processing parameters allowed for tracing the process of shaping the deformation zone. The research results clearly show that the parameter that best describes the nature of the changes in the geometry of the deformation zone is the height of the deformation wave (h\({}_{\ell}\)) determined in the axial cross-sectional plane and the size of the tool cavity in relation to the surface of the raw material (h\({}_{\ell o}\)). These parameters are relatively easy to determine in industrial conditions. Their determination is even possible directly on the machine tool using portable roughness measuring equipment. This allows not only the proper selection of burnishing parameters, which do not lead to excessive shape errors of the obtained surfaces, but also, as a result, the elimination of the \"trial and error\" method from the industry. The practical use of computer-aided measurement methods for the analysis of selected stereometric parameters and the shapes of the deformation zone of burnished surfaces, presented in the study, allows for a significant increase in the amount and transparency of information that can be obtained. It becomes possible to precisely determine the area of contact between the burnishing tool and the processed material. Thanks to this, the values of actual contact stresses in the contact zone are known.