Ductile-Regime Grinding Of Brittle Materials: Experimental Results And The Development Of A Model

Abstract

Ductile-regime grinding is a new technology made possible by the use of real-time control and precision engineering in the grinding process. By ensuring that the abrasive grinding forces do not exceed a threshold value, it is possible to grind materials that are normally considered "brittle" in such a way that the material removal takes place through plastic deformation rather than fracture. The material surfaces produced by ductile-regime grinding exhibit excellent contour accuracy along with surface finishes that previously could only be achieved through polishing or lapping. This paper describes an analytical and experimental investigation of the machining parameters and material parameters that influence grinding ductility.