1. EBB440
Applied Metallurgy
Abrasive Machining

2. Introduction
Material removal by action of hard, abrasive particles usually in the form of a bonded wheel.
Generally used as finishing operations after part geometry has been established by conventional machining.
Grinding is most important abrasive processes.
Other abrasive processes: honing, lapping, superfinishing, polishing, and buffing.

3. Why Abrasive Machining IMPORTANT ?
• Can be used on all types of materials.
• Can be used to produce extremely fine surface finishes, to µm.
• For certain abrasive process can hold dimensions to extremely close tolerances

4. Classification 3 major areas in abrasive machining Abrasive Machining
Loose
Impart
Bonded
Grinding
Honing
Coated abrasives
Lapping
Ultrasonic machining
Barrel finishing
Buffing
Polishing
Grit blasting
Hydrohoning
Water jet cutting
Abrasive jet cutting

5. Cutting action of abrasive grains
Grinding
Material cutting process which engages an abrasive tool whose cutting elements are grains of abrasive material known as grit. These grits are characterized by sharp cutting points, high hot hardness, chemical stability and wear resistance. The grits are held together by a suitable bonding material to give shape of an abrasive tool.
• Grinding wheel usually disk-shaped and precisely balanced for high rotational speeds.
Cutting action of abrasive grains

6. Grinding and its components
Grinding wheels
Process variables
Truing and dressing
Cooling and Lubricating
Types of grinding equipment

7. The Grinding Wheel
• Consists of abrasive particles and bonding material.
Abrasive particles accomplish cutting.
Bonding material holds particles in place and establishes shape and structure of wheel.

8. Grinding Wheel Parameters
Abrasive material
• Grain size
• Bonding material
• Wheel grade
• Wheel structure

9. Abrasive Material Properties
High hardness at room and elevated temperatures.
• Wear resistance
Chemical stability.
• Toughness
• Friability - capacity to fracture when cutting edge dulls, so a new sharp edge is exposed
Low adhesion to the workpiece.

10. Abrasive Materials Aluminum oxide (Al2O3) - most common abrasive.
Used to grind steel and other ferrous high-strength alloys.
Silicon carbide (SiC) - harder than Al2O3 but not as tough
Used on aluminum, brass, stainless steel, some cast irons and certain ceramics
Cubic boron nitride (cBN) –very hard, very expensive
Suitable for steels
Used for hard materials such as hardened tool steels and
aerospace alloys (e.g., Ni-based alloys).
Diamond –Even harder, very expensive
Occur naturally and also made synthetically
Not suitable for grinding steels
Used on hard, abrasive materials such as ceramics, cemented carbides, and glass

11. Hardness of Abrasive Materials
Aluminum oxide
Silicon carbide
Cubic boron nitride
Diamond (synthetic)
Knoop hardness
2100
2500
5000
7000

12. Grain Size Small grit sizes produce better finishes
• Larger grit sizes permit larger material removal rates
• Harder work materials require smaller grain sizes to cut effectively
• Softer materials require larger grit sizes

13. Bonding Material Properties
• The bonding material holds the abrasive grains and establishes shape and structural of the grinding wheel.
Properties of bond material – strength, toughness, hardness & temperature resistance.
Must withstand centrifugal forces and high temperatures
• Must resist shattering during shock loading of wheel
• Must hold abrasive grains rigidly in place for cutting yet allow worn grains to be dislodged so new sharp grains are exposed

14. Typical structure of a grinding wheel
Wheel Structure
Refer to relative spacing of abrasive grains in the wheel
Contains abrasive grains, bond material & air gaps.
Two wheel structures : Open structure and Dense structure
Typical structure of a grinding wheel

15. Wheel Grade
Indicates the grinding wheel’s bond strength in retaining the abrasive grits during cutting.
Soft wheels – loose grain readily, low removal rate and grinding of hard materials
Hard wheels – retain abrasive grain, high stock removal rates & grinding soft material.

16. Three Types of Grain Action
Cutting - grit projects far enough into surface to form a chip - material is removed.
• Plowing - grit projects into work, but not far enough to cut - instead, surface is deformed and energy is consumed, but no material is removed.
• Rubbing - grit contacts surface but only rubbing friction occurs, thus consuming energy, but no material is removed.

17. Four Types of Surface Grinding
(a) horizontal spindle with reciprocating worktable, (b) horizontal spindle with rotating worktable, (c) vertical spindle with reciprocating worktable, (d) vertical spindle with rotating worktable.

18. Surface Grinder
Surface grinder with horizontal spindle and reciprocating worktable

19. Two types of cylindrical grinding: (a) external, and (b) internal.

20. External centerless grinding.

21. Video
Surface Grinding
External Grinding
Internal Grinding

22. Honing
Abrasive process performed by a set of bonded abrasive sticks using a combination of rotational and oscillatory motions.
• Common application is to finish the bores of internal combustion engines.
Surface finishes of 0.12 µm or better.
• Creates a characteristic cross-hatched surface that retains lubrication.
Grit sizes range between 30 and 600.
Cutting fluid must be used to cool and lubricate the tool and remove the chips.

23. Kawasaki Cylinder Honing
The honing process: (a) the honing tool used for internal bore surface, and (b) cross‑hatched surface pattern created by the action of the honing tool.
Kawasaki Cylinder Honing

24. Lapping Uses a fluid suspension of very small abrasive particles
between workpiece and lapping tool (lap).
Abrasive process used to produce surface finishes of extreme accuracy and smoothness.
• Lapping compound - fluid with abrasives, general appearance of a chalky paste.
Common abrasive -
• Typical grit sizes between 300 to 600.
• Applications: optical lenses, metallic bearing surfaces, gages and parts required very good finish.

25. The lapping process in lens‑making.
Lapping machine

26. Superfinishing
Similar to honing - uses bonded abrasive stick pressed against surface and reciprocating motion.
• Differences with honing:
Shorter strokes
Higher frequencies
Lower pressures between tool and surface
Smaller grit sizes

27. Superfinishing on an external cylindrical surface.