Grinding Process Characteristics and Application Scope
Grinding is a kind of machining process which is used to remove material by abrasion. It is typically a finishing operation process that makes use of high-speed abrasive wheels. The abrasive wheels act as cutting tools, where each grain of abrasive serves as a single cutting tool. Grinding processes are usually used to remove material to form and shape parts with high precision or to improve surface finish and flatness. In addition, grinding is also used to sharpen tools, such as drill bits and milling cutters. Thus, it is one of the basic manufacturing processes and is used in many industries.
The features of grinding process depend on the working principle and design of the grinding machines. Generally, grinding machines are divided into two categories, including cylindrical grinding machine and surface grinding machine.
The most commonly used cylindrical grinding machine is the external cylindrical grinding machine. This machine is used for machining cylindrical surfaces as well as for drill and thread grinding. It has many advantages such as high accuracy, flexibility and high productivity. It is also used in the production of automotive parts, bearings, punches and bearings.
Surface grinding is a material removal process which is used to finish flat surfaces. It is accomplished by means of an abrasive wheel with an irregular grain structure, which is bonded to the wheel. The rotation of the grinding wheel produces an abrasive action which removes material from the workpiece. This process is particularly useful for producing smooth, flat and highly accurate surfaces on metals. In addition, it is also used in the production of automotive and machine parts and components.
The application scope of grinding process covers a wide range, such as manufacturing, automotive, construction, military, shipbuilding, aerospace and energy industries. Various kinds of grinding machines are used in those industries, such as centerless cylindrical grinding machines, internal cylindrical grinding machines, surface grinding machines and profiled wheel grinding machines. Other specialized grinding machines are also available for grinding certain special shapes and sizes. For example, there is the gear grinding machine which is primarily used for grinding the gear surfaces of shafts. In addition, the optical profile grinding machine is used for grinding the surfaces of optical elements.
In summary, grinding is an important machining process which has a wide application range. Depending on the application, the working principle and design of the grinding machine are different. In addition, various kind of grinding machines are available for the production of special part shapes and sizes.
