INFLUENCE OF DRESSING FEED ON THE PERFORMANCE OF LASER DRESSED AL2O3 WHEEL IN WET GRINDING

The influence of dressing feed on the performance of a laser dressed A l2O3 wheel in surface grinding under wet, plunge grinding conditions i s discussed. The performance of a grinding wheel dressed with differen t feed rates was evaluated by means of several grinding parameters suc h as grinding forces, wheel wear against work material removed (G-rati o), worksurface finish and its integrity. The performance of a laser d ressed wheel was compared with that of a diamond dressed wheel. Analys is of the results clearly indicated the satisfactory performance of th e laser dressed Al2O3, wheel in wet grinding, especially when dressed with a feed of 0.35 mm/rev and with an intensity of 4.0 x 10(10) W/m(2 ). Further, this particular analysis suggests the selection of smaller feed rates for dressing grinding wheels with a laser in order to modi fy the wheel surface topography considerably, so as to produce effecti ve grinding results with laser dressed grinding wheels.