Granite polishing: Effects of polishing parameters and tool paths on part quality and dust emission

Machining is necessary to shape parts but it is also an important source of pollution (such as dust and aerosols) and this constitutes hazards for machine-tools operators. The emission of dust depends on machining conditions, processes, tooling, and machining strategies. The shop floor air quality is thus of great concern when shaping dusty materials such as granite as this process generates harmful dusts. In recent times, the occupational health and safety regulations have become more severe. On the 24th of March 2016, the US department of Labor's, occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced the reduction of the exposure limit for inhalable crystalline silica dust by half. To quickly comply with these new regulations, engineers and researchers must help industries in developing strategies to limit workers risk of exposure to the silica. This paper investigates the emission of fine and ultrafine particle emission when polishing granite as a function of machining conditions and parameters. The main goal is to determine machining conditions leading to less dust emission while maintaining acceptable part quality and productivity. (C) 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.