Masanori Kunieda

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About

Masanori Kunieda is a pioneering figure in precision manufacturing, best known for his foundational work in robotic polishing and magnetic field-assisted finishing technologies. His research centers on the automation of die and mold surface finishing—a historically manual, time-consuming process that can consume over 30% of manufacturing time for plastic molding dies. Kunieda’s major contribution is the development of magnetically pressed polishing tools, which use controlled magnetic fields to apply consistent pressure to curved, free-form surfaces during robotic polishing. His seminal 1988 paper, "Robot-polishing of curved surface with magnetically pressed polishing tool" (26 citations), introduced a novel tool that eliminated uneven stock removal and surface waviness, a critical advancement over earlier uni-axis designs. He further refined this concept with a planetary motion-type tool, enhancing surface uniformity. Kunieda’s work directly addressed the challenge of automating die finishing, enabling higher precision and efficiency in manufacturing complex molds. His innovations remain influential in the fields of precision engineering and automated surface finishing, laying the groundwork for modern magnetic field-assisted polishing techniques used in high-value manufacturing today.