ELECTROLYTIC IN-PROCESS DRESSING (ELID) GRINDING TECHNIQUE FOR ULTRAPRECISION MIRROR SURFACE MACHINING

Advanced research on precision grinding technique is concentrating on the development of high-quality finish grinding. In particular, the improvement of manufacturing processes for highly functional parts composed of hard and brittle materials will necessitate the establishment of more stable and efficient fine grinding methods to reduce loads on free-abrasive finishing processes. The author has proposed a new finish grinding technique utilizing metal bonded fine superabrasive grinding wheels along with a special electrolytic phenomenon for in-process dressing. This technique is known as ''ELID-Grinding,'' where ''ELID'' stands for ''electrolytic in-process dressing.'' This technique makes it possible to use metal bonded micrograin wheels, such as cast iron fiber bonded wheels, for stable and effective mirror surface grinding operations. ELID also enables stable rough grinding operations using coarser grit-size wheels. ELID-grinding is expected to be applied to most grinding operations in productions. The combination of ELID and an ultraprecision grinding machine has been proved to be effective for obtaining higher shape accuracy, and lower subsurface damage, together with improved surface roughness.