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Characterization of grinding wheel grain topography under different robotic grinding conditions using confocal microscope

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Abstract

Knowing the grain geometry in grinding wheels is an asset for better understanding the grinding processes. This study investigates the grain protrusion and rake angles of two self-dressing zirconia-alumina grinding wheels in a robotic grinding process. The topography of the wheel is measured using a confocal scanning laser microscope. An optical image of the surface is used to create a mask of the grains with image processing techniques. Grain geometry information is then obtained by applying the mask to the entire surface. A vertex normal technique is used to find the cutting edges facing the cutting direction and only consider those edges in grain rake angle calculations. Surface parameters, including grain density, width, protrusion height, and rake angle, are extracted from the topography. The grinding wheel is characterized in low, medium, and high depths of cut in the range of robot operation. Results indicate that grain density, width, and protrusion height distribution are not affected by the depth of cut. It is also found that in shallow grinding, grain rake angle shifts slightly to higher negative angles; whereas, with a higher depth of cut, sharper edges exist on the wheel surface, which improve process efficiency.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, École de Technologie Supérieure, Université du Québec, Montréal, Québec, H3C 1K3, Canada

    Amir Masoud Tahvilian, Zhaoheng Liu & Henri Champliaud

  2. Expertise Robotique et Civil, IREQ, Hydro-Québec’s Research Institute, Varennes, Québec, J3X 1S1, Canada

    Bruce Hazel & Marin Lagacé

Authors
  1. Amir Masoud Tahvilian
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  2. Zhaoheng Liu
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  3. Henri Champliaud
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  4. Bruce Hazel
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  5. Marin Lagacé
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Correspondence to Zhaoheng Liu.

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Tahvilian, A.M., Liu, Z., Champliaud, H. et al. Characterization of grinding wheel grain topography under different robotic grinding conditions using confocal microscope. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 80, 1159–1171 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-015-7109-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-015-7109-z

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