Feasibility Study on Grinding of Titanium Alloys with Electroplated CBN Wheels

An experimental investigation is reported on the grinding of a titanium alloy using electroplated CBN wheels with water-based grinding fluid and wheel surface cleaning fluid applied at high pressures. This work was motivated by applying grinding fluid and wheel surface cleaning fluid both at high pressures for avoiding wheel loading, which is commonly seen in titanium alloy grinding. The objective is to explore the feasibility to grind titanium alloys with electroplated CBN wheels and high pressure wheel surface cleaning fluid for enhancing material removal rates. Straight surface grinding experiments were conducted on titanium alloy blocks in both shallow depth of cut and creep-feed modes. Grinding power, forces, and surface roughness were measured. Specific material removal rates of 8 mm(2)/s in shallow cut mode and 3 mm(2)/s at a depth of cut as high as 3 mm in creep-feed mode were achieved without burning and smearing of ground surfaces. It was showed that it is feasible to grind titanium alloys with electroplated CBN wheels at enhanced removal rates by applying grinding and wheel cleaning fluid at high pressures.