Optimization and Application of Laser-Dressed cBN Grinding Wheels

Abstract

Laser-dressing has been shown to be a promising method for overcoming some shortcomings of the conventional methods such as high wear of the dressing tool and its environmental concerns, high induced damage to the grinding wheel, low form flexibility and low speed. In this study, a resin bonded cBN grinding wheel has been dressed with a picosecond Yb:YAG laser. The efficiency of the laser-dressed grinding wheels has been compared with the conventionally dressed and sharpened grinding wheels through execution of cylindrical grinding tests on a steel workpiece (100Cr6). The conventional dressing and sharpening processes have been performed by using a vitrified SiC wheel and vitrified alumina blocks, respectively. By recording the spindle power values along with the surface topography measurements of the ground workpieces and the extraction of two roughness parameters (the average roughness Ra and the average roughness depth Rz), it is possible to provide an assessment of the cylindrical grinding process with different dressing conditions i.e. laser-dressing and conventional dressing. Accordingly, a strategy will be proposed to optimize the cylindrical grinding process with laser-dressed wheels regarding the forces and roughness values.