Precision truing of electroplated diamond grinding wheels via spray-mist-assisted laser technology

Abstract

Laser truing has broad application prospects, but the problems of thermal damage and the metamorphic layer of diamond have not been well solved, which significantly affects the quality and precision of truing. To address these problems, we propose a novel laser truing method with a spray-mist assistant (SMA) for an electroplated diamond grinding wheel. First, the action mechanism of SMA laser truing is analysed. Subsequently, the effects of the truing parameters, including the spray pressure and laser truing iterations, on the SMA laser truing quality are studied. Next, a new analysis method is proposed to describe the SMA laser truing effect and thermal damage based on the fractal theory. Finally, the laser truing of an electroplated diamond grinding wheel based on SMA is described. The results show that the SMA laser truing effect is closely related to the spray pressure and truing iterations. The influence of the SMA laser truing iterations on the height of the abrasive grains on the surface of the grinding wheel can be divided into three key stages: rapid decrease stage, slow decrease stage, and stable stage. The inhibition of diamond graphitisation by SMA laser truing is remarkable, and the graphitisation phenomenon is completely eliminated.