Key Factors that Affect the Results of Surface Grinding Process
May 10, 2021Grinding is a type of machining process that entails the removal of material from a workpiece through a grinding wheel. The grinding wheel typically allows certain parts of a workpiece to be cut while it generates a smooth surface during its operations.
One type of grinding operations that is often conducted by manufacturing plants is surface grinding. Surface grinding is a type of finishing process that utilises the grinding wheel in creating products that have a smooth and refined flat surface. This process removes the oxide layer and other impurities that workpiece surfaces often have. It likewise sharpens cutting tools, generates products with very smooth surface roughness, and create parts with accurate thickness tolerance.
All parts and products that are processed by surface grinding can only achieve great results if several factors are considered. Here are some key factors that can affect the results of surface grinding.
Grinding Wheel Material
One main factor that can affect the results of surface grinding is the material used for the grinding wheel. Grinding wheels may differ according to the type of materials that they have. Some wheels may be made from aluminium oxide, while others may boast silicon carbide. There are also grinding wheels that boast diamonds to effectively yield the best surface grinding results. Choosing wheels that are made from these materials allow the surface grinding process to be successful, especially in terms of material removal. Wheels that are made from cork, however, can only be used for burnishing and polishing.
Hardness and Dressing
Somehow connected to the wheel material, two factors that could affect the results of the surface grinding process are hardness and dressing qualities. The hardness of the wheel can gauge how easy or difficult abrasive grains can fall off from it after encountering grinding force. A grinding wheel that is too hard can increase plastic deformation and surface roughness value, while a grinding wheel that is too soft can weaken the grinding process. The dressing quality of the grinding wheel, on the other hand, can directly affect the overall abrasive cutting edge and surface roughness value of the process.
Feed and Speed
Two more factors that can affect the surface grinding process are feed and speed. Feed pertains to the rate of the three axes and can easily affect the surface finish of a workpiece. Speed, alternatively, refers to the wheel RPM, which is expected to be constant in a surface grinding process. Considering the values of these factors can help achieve surface finishes that are appropriate for certain applications. Low operational speeds can only damage the surface roughness. Appropriate speeds, alternatively, can improve grinding quality and reduce the surface roughness of workpieces.
Workpiece Material
One more factor that can affect the results of the surface grinding process is the workpiece material. Elements such as hardness, plasticity, and thermal conductivity of workpiece materials can boast a huge effect on surface roughness. Soft materials would only block the grinding wheel, making them difficult to process. Those with poor thermal conductivity, on the other hand, may result in an increase in the surface roughness and an early collapse of the grain.
To learn more about the surface grinding process, just contact us at Gunna Engineering.
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