Electrical discharge dressing metal-bonded diamond grinding wheels with various mediums

Abstract

Truing and dressing of superabrasive grinding wheels remain as one of the most important issues in hard-to-cut materials’ precise machining field. Recently, electrical discharge dressing process with less pollution, aimed to protect environment, has become an urgent studying subject in the world. In this study, various discharge mediums including kerosene-based oil, compressed air, misted deionized water, and misted emulsion were applied in electrical discharge dressing bronze-bonded diamond grinding wheels. Misted deionized water and misted emulsion are liquid–gas mixture. The dressing quality of wheels with various mediums was analyzed according to wheel topographies. The dressing efficiency of various discharge mediums was evaluated by the dressing depth divided by the dressing time. In addition, the performance of electrical discharge dressed wheel was investigated in practical grinding. Misted deionized water and misted emulsion electrical discharge dressing show advantages over the compressed air electrical discharge dressing in better dressing quality and higher dressing efficiency. Compared to kerosene-based oil electrical discharge dressing, misted deionized water and misted emulsion electrical discharge dressing have better dressing quality and lower dressing efficiency.