Modeling the wetting behavior of grinding wheels

Helical flute grinding is an important process step in the manufacturing of cylindrical cemented carbide tools where the use of cooling lubricants is a defining factor determining process performance. Finding optimal parameters and cooling conditions for the efficient use of lubricant is essential in reducing energy consumption and in controlling properties of the boundary zone like residual stresses. Any mathematical model describing the interactions between grinding wheel, lubricant and workpiece during the process has to account for the complex microstructure of the wheel; however, this renders the identification of parameters like slip or heat exchange coefficients numerically prohibitively expensive. In this paper, results from grinding oil droplet experiments are compared with simulation results for the wetting behavior of grinding wheels. More specifically, finite element simulations of the thin-film equation are used to identify slip parameters for different grinding wheel specifications (grain size, bonding structure, wetting status). Our results show that both the bonding and the grain size have an influence on the wetting behavior. The slip parameters that we identified account for the fluid-microstructure interactions and will be used to effectively model those interactions in more complex 3D fluid-dynamic simulations via the Beavers-Joseph condition

Automated process planning in milling of hybrid components

Hybrid material composites can meet the increasing demands for high strength and low weight due to their different workpiece properties. Usually, hybrid components require post-machining after their fabrication. Due to the different material properties, new challenges arise in the machining process. It is essential to recognize the course of the material boundary in order to adapt the process planning accordingly and to enable a uniform material transition during machining. This paper presents a method for automated material recognition and automatic adaptation of the process parameters considering a uniform force level during the milling of hybrid materials. This way, the load on the milling tool in the material transition area can be reduced by up to 71%, which prevents premature tool failure. An optical laser line scanner is used to localize of material transitions within hybrid components. This enables a digital mapping of the material distribution in the discretized workpiece model. In combination with an empirical force model, it is possible to predict the cutting forces of the different materials and determine the material transition area for adapting them to specified target values

Modeling the wetting behavior of grinding wheels

Helical flute grinding is an important process step in the manufacturing of cylindrical cemented carbide tools where the use of cooling lubricants is a defining factor determining process performance. Finding optimal parameters and cooling conditions for the efficient use of lubricant is essential in reducing energy consumption and in controlling properties of the boundary zone like residual stresses. Any mathematical model describing the interactions between grinding wheel, lubricant and workpiece during the process has to account for the complex microstructure of the wheel; however, this renders the identification of parameters like slip or heat exchange coefficients numerically prohibitively expensive. In this paper, results from grinding oil droplet experiments are compared with simulation results for the wetting behavior of grinding wheels. More specifically, finite element simulations of the thin-film equation are used to identify slip parameters for different grinding wheel specifications (grain size, bonding structure, wetting status). Our results show that both the bonding and the grain size have an influence on the wetting behavior. The slip parameters that we identified account for the fluid-microstructure interactions and will be used to effectively model those interactions in more complex 3D fluid-dynamic simulations via the Beavers-Joseph condition

Modeling of heat transfer in tool grinding for multiscale simulations

Tool grinding is a fundamental process step when manufacturing cylindrical cemented carbide tools. A deeper understanding of the relationship between heat generation, heat transfer and fluid dynamics is essential to optimize the application of cooling lubrication. Due to the porous structure of the grinding tool as well as the rough surfaces of tool and workpiece, this inherently leads to multiscale problems. In this paper, an approach for modeling the heat transfer between the grinding tool, the workpiece and coolant on the microscale and mesoscale is introduced, including the effective influence of the porous structure. As a basis for the simulations, experimental investigations are conducted using individual abrasive grains. A linear relationship between the single grain chip cross section and the tangential force is established with an average RMSE of 1.421 N, allowing the total heat flux to be calculated. The results are then transferred to continuous and discontinuous 2D multiscale fluid dynamic simulations in order to predict heat generation and to potentially optimize the cooling lubrication in grinding processes