Honing is an abrasive machining process that produces a precision surface on a metal workpiece by scrubbing an abrasive grinding stone or grinding wheel against it along a controlled path). Honing is primarily used to improve the geometric form of a surface, but it can also improve the surface finish). The honing process provides the final sizing and creates the desired finish pattern on the interior of tubing or cylinder bores. Honing stones are composed of abrasive grains that are bound together with an adhesive). Honing grains are irregularly shaped and about 10 to 50 micrometers in diameter). Honing is a high-precision process and is relatively expensive, so it is only used in components that demand the highest level of precision). Honing is typically the last manufacturing operation before the part is shipped to a customer).

Honing machines perform three operations: stock removal, finish pattern generation, and assurance of extremely accurate straightness, roundness, and size of the cylindrical surface. The honing process involves using a honing tool of bounded adhesive sticks with oscillatory and rotational motions. The tool slowly removes material from the machined surface and the internal diameter of holes to give the desired shape and finish. Honing machines are metal abrading tools and process utilizing hard tooling and perishable abrasives stones for the correction of bore geometry, size control, final surface finish, and surface structuring.

It is important to note that honing is different from sharpening a knife. Honing is used to maintain, straighten, and align a knifes sharp edge, which can bend and warp with frequent use. Honing doesnt remove any metal from the blade; instead, it realigns the existing edge, resulting in a sharper-feeling, more precise blade. In contrast, sharpening is used to restore a dull or damaged edge by removing metal.

In summary, honing is an abrasive machining process that produces a precision surface on a metal workpiece by scrubbing an abrasive grinding stone or grinding wheel against it along a controlled path. It is primarily used to improve the geometric form of a surface, but it can also improve the surface finish. Honing machines perform three operations: stock removal, finish pattern generation, and assurance of extremely accurate straightness, roundness, and size of the cylindrical surface.