IN-PROCESS DETECTION OF GRINDING WHEEL TRUING AND DRESSING CONDITIONSUSING A FLAPPER NOZZLE ARRANGEMENT

The spatial distribution of sharp cutting edges around the active peri phery of a grinding wheel has an important effect on the surface finis h of ground components. In addition, random protrusion of sharp edges can result in a random distribution of grinding forces acting on the g round surface. A uniformly dressed and accurately trued wheel is essen tial for successful grinding. Since these conditions will alter during use, monitoring of them during grinding must be a requirement for cri tical grinding operations. This paper describes a new system for achie ving on-line detection of the grinding wheel condition. The system use s a small air flapper nozzle-transducer arrangement which detects in-p rocess changes of the grinding wheel surface topography, where externa l triggering of the data-acquisition system ensures a highly accurate identification of the wheel's surface topography irrespective of wheel speed. The benefits of this system are illustrated by experimental re sults that correlate the measurement of wheel topography by two means: flapper nozzle and stylus.