Analysis of the Surface Quality and Temperature in Grinding of Acrylic-Based Resin

Abstract

Polymeric resins are becoming increasingly popular in medical and engineering applications due to their properties, such as their low weight, high strength, corrosion resistance, non-allergenicity, and extended service life. The grinding process is used to convert these materials into desired products, offering high accuracy and surface quality. However, grinding generates significant heat, which can potentially degrade the material. This study investigates the grinding of acrylic-based resins, specifically focusing on the interplay between the grind zone temperature and surface finish. The low glass transition temperature (57 °C) of the acrylic necessitates the precise control of the grinding parameters (spindle speed, feed rate, depth of cut, and grinding wheel grain size), to maintain a low temperature and achieve high-quality machining. Thermal imaging and thermocouples were employed to measure the grind zone temperature under various grinding conditions. This study investigates the influence of four parameters: spindle speed, feed rate, depth of cut, and grinding wheel grain size. The best surface finish (Ra: 2.5 µm) was obtained by using a finer-grained (80/Ø 0.18 mm) grinding wheel, combined with slightly adjusted parameters (spindle speed: 11.57 m/s, feed rate: 0.406 mm/rev, depth of cut: 1.00 mm), albeit with a slightly higher grind zone temperature (~54 °C). This study highlighted the importance of balancing the grind zone temperature and surface finish for the optimal grinding of acrylic-based resins. Further, this research finds that by carefully controlling the grinding parameters, it is possible to achieve both a high surface quality and prevent material degradation. The research findings could be highly valuable for optimizing the grinding process for various medical and engineering applications.