Comparative Study of Cutting Fluid Application Methods to Improve Machining Conditions During Surface Grinding on AISI 1040 Steel

Finishing operations play a very important role in machining as they help to achieve the desired high-quality surface. Surface grinding, a widely employed finishing process uses wheels made of abrasive grains mixed with a bonding material. At the initial stages of the grinding process, the structure of the grain in the wheel will be in upright condition as the abrasive grains are sharp. As the process proceeds, abrasive grains become blunt due to the cutting force and the heat generated at the interface, thereby reducing the surface quality of the workpiece. Application of the coolant at the primary cutting zone reduces the temperature and also improves the grinding but at the cost of the environmental and health hazards which is prominent in the grinding process. In this research article, comparative experimental investigations between the different methods of application of coolant namely flood and minimal quantity lubricant (MQL) with the dry grinding process are carried out. It is the MQL method of coolant application that offers a desirable grinding operation, with reduced environmental impact and health hazards.