Propeller material belt grinding parameters optimisation using Taguchi technique

Abstract

Belt grinding has been employed to achieve the finished geometry and the surface quality of large marine propeller with manganese bronze material (ZCuAl8Mn13Fe3Ni2). However, it is very challenging to select a group of reasonable belt grinding parameters with the consideration of accuracy, efficiency and economy simultaneously, which is always dealt by trial-and-error actually. This research mainly focuses on belt grinding parameters optimisation utilising Taguchi technique for improving surface roughness, belt wear and material remove rate. Four main factors were taken into account, including abrasive grain size, grinding speed, feed rate and grinding depth. The influences of those factors on grinding process were analysed through S/N ratios and analysis of variance (ANOVA). A number of experiments were conducted on a five-axis computer numerical control (CNC) belt grinding machine according to the parameters orthogonal array (OA). It showed that surface roughness, belt wear and material remove rate have been improved using the optimised belt grinding parameters.