Electrolytic In-process Dressing Grinding - A Review

Grinding is machining process where material is removed by the action of abrasive particles whereas Electrolytic-in-process-dressing grinding (ELID Grinding) is an in-situ dressing method used for metal-bond wheels. This technique being greatly successful for fine grain wheels to obtain high surface finish of higher order and for the machining of hard ceramics by applying a small cutting depth for grains in order to overcome failure by cracking. Continuous research proves that ELID grinding bears significant impact in the area of critical applications such as refractory nozzles, intricate components of missile etc., compared to conventional grinding in terms of improved surface finish, sub-surface matrix damage and excellent surface accuracy. An extensive attempt has been made through this review work to understand the origin, development, process setup & variables, wide range of applications and also mathematical modeling as applied to ELID grinding. Future scope of the process as applied to manufacturing sector is also highlighted.