On the performance of Super Abrasive Machining (SAM) on small diameter cBN wheel wear

Abstract

Abstract Electroplated cBN wheels have increased their importance in industry, mainly in camshaft, crankshaft and gearbox grinding in the automotive sector and in grinding of aeronautical turbine parts made from nickel superalloys. Possible new applications include Integrated Blade Rotors (IBRs), whose importance is increasing in new aeroengine configurations. Electroplated cBN wheels form retention without trueing or dressing and low wear make them suitable for this usage. However, few information is available about wear and resulting surface finish characteristics in the small diameter wheels needed for this application. In this study, data about wheel topography and wear and surface finishing of resulting surfaces is shown. Also, some hypothesis about the reasons for the higher-than-expected resulting surface finish are exposed.