Fixed-load electrolytic dressing with bronze bonded grinding wheels

In electrolytic in-process dressing (ELID), a metal-bonded grinding wheel i s dressed as a result of anodic dissolution. In this paper we describe expe riments to evaluate the potential for ELID on bronze wheels in fixed-load g rinding applications. A constant-force grinding apparatus was used to deter mine appropriated ELID conditions for a 10-20 mu m bronze bonded diamond gr inding wheel used to machine silicon bronze bonded diamond wafering saw. Op timum ELID current was determined for different workpiece materials, and th e wear rate of the saw blade using ELID was found to be of the same order a s the wear rate of the saw blade using intermittent dressing with a porous ceramic stick. Some of the important factors controlling the rate of dressi ng by ELID (rate of film growth, rate of film wear and rate of diamond wear ) and their combined effects are discussed. Successful use of ELID on bronz e-bonded wheels in other applications will be facilitated by understanding these phenomena, developing a general process model based on them and being able to predict useful ELID parameters.