Description:
During the production process development for the
manufacture of an experimental supersonic aircraft , an unusual
and difficult grinding problem was encountered.
Arising from the experimental work carried out to solve
this problem, a method of numerically evaluating the efficiency
of grinding wheels and coolants, was developed. This evaluation
is based on the fact that under constant and limited grit load
conditions which can be set up in a surface grinding operation,
the edge of the grinding wheel which makes initial contact with
the workpiece breaks down and forms an approach angle as shown
in Fig. 1. Once this angle is established, its dimensions
remain almost constant, and with continued use of the wheel the
angle recedes across the face of the wheel. It is the
recognition of the variables which control the dimensions of this
approach angle (alpha) together with the rate at which it recedes
across the wheel face, and the amount of work done at each
increment of recession, on which the numerical evaluation of the
efficiency of the grinding wheel and the causes of the limitations
are based.
A description of the methods used for determining the
characteristics of grinding wheels and coolants are included
together with the calculations which are necessary when the
data obtained from tests carried out on the surface grinding
machine are to be interpreted and applied to the cylinder
grinding internal grinding or form grinding processes.