Tool optimization for high speed grinding

Vitrified bonded cBN grinding wheels catches on for batch production especially in the automotive industry for components of power trains. In pursuit of higher productivity with steady quality the optimization of manufacturing processes and tools are getting more relevant. In this contribution potentials and challenges of structured grinding tools for the optimization of grinding processes are discussed. Technological investigations with structured and non-structured vitrified bonded cBN grinding wheels were carried out and the results of varying setting parameters were analyzed. The main aspects of interest for these studies were the detection of possible coolant savings and phenomena of vibrations, the reduction of the thermal damage of the workpieces as well as the influence on the workpiece roughness and the grinding wheel radial wear. The experiments show the potentials of structured cBN grinding wheels for roughing and finishing in cylindrical plunge grinding processes. But there are some basic requirements for the geometry of the structures especially due to the vibrations of the grinding process. For the roughing tests the adequate structured abrasive layers show less grinding forces and thermal damage of the workpiece. For finishing processes the results show comparable values of roughness and waviness referring to non-structured grinding wheels. In addition, a limit for suitable grinding wheel structures in conjunction with the setting parameters could be identified that offers valuable clues for the dimensioning of structured abrasive layers even for non-circular grinding processes.