High removal rate grinding of titanium alloys with electroplated CBN wheels

Abstract

This paper is concerned with an experimental study on the grinding of a titanium alloy using electroplated CBN wheels with water-based grinding fluid and wheel surface cleaning fluid applied at high pressures. The objective is to explore the approaches and conditions to grind titanium alloys with enhanced material removal rates. Straight surface grinding experiments were conducted on titanium alloy blocks in both shallow depth of cut and creep-feed modes. Grinding power, forces, surface roughness, and radial wheel wear were measured. Specific material removal rates of 8 mm2/s in shallow cut mode and 3 mm2/s at a depth of cut as high as 3 mm in creep-feed mode were achieved without burning and smearing of ground surfaces. An average G-ratio of about 155 was obtained with a shallow depth of cut grinding condition. It was showed that it is feasible to grind titanium alloys with electroplated CBN wheels at enhanced removal rates by applying grinding and wheel cleaning fluid at high pressures.