Temperature and force sensor integrated grinding wheel for process monitoring

Intelligent, sensor integrated grinding wheels can become a substantial element of an in-process control system for grinding processes within industrial applications. In contrast to conventional monitoring systems the information of the process status is delivered by small sensors integrated inside the tool. These sensors aim to measure the parameters of the grinding process, which are of most interest for the success and the efficiency of the process, such as temperature, forces, and vibration. However, no appropriate sensor system within the tool for at least one of these process parameters for industrial application is available. For the time being, this approach aims to equip CBN-grinding wheels with temperature force and vibration sensors by making use of the modular set-up of the grinding wheel. Hence, the sensors will be positioned within the rotating part of the tool system. In particular, the temperature sensor is designed to measure the in-situ process temperature within the contact zone between the grinding wheel and the workpiece and is characterized by continuous new generation of the sensitive zone utilizing the wheel's wear. The transfer of the process data is performed by an attached telemetric unit.