Flexible spindle polishing

In a material fabrication environment for forming internal channels with curvilinear portions in a machined body, a method for smoothing a surface of the internal channels, comprising:

• attaching a grinding wheel at a distal end of a flexible shaft;
• engaging a drive source with a proximal end of the flexible shaft for rotation of the grinding wheel via the flexible shaft;
• inserting the grinding wheel into the channel;
• creating a fluid media in communication with the channel and the grinding wheel;
• and
• rotating the flexible shaft at a rotation speed for controlling an orbit of the grinding wheel against the surface of the channel.

A system for surface treatment of an interior surface of a conduit, comprising:

• a grinding wheel adapted for rotation;
• a flexible shaft attached to the grinding wheel and responsive to drive logic for rotation of the grinding wheel;
• a fluid supply for providing fluid to an interior of the conduit;
• and
• an abrasive surface geometry on an exterior of the grinding wheel, the drive logic for rotating the flexible shaft, the flexible shaft configured for a rotation speed for attaining an orbit of the grinding wheel based on a grit size of the abrasive surface geometry, a rotational speed of the grinding wheel and a viscosity of the fluid.