TABLE OF CONTENTS Material removal during grinding occurs as abrasive grains interact with the workpiece. The penetration depths of the cutting points into the material being ground depend upon the topography of the wheel surface and the geometry and kinematic motions of the wheel and workpiece. These aspects of the grinding process were discussed in Chapters 3 and 4. The present chapter is concerned with what happens as abrasive grains interact with the workpiece.
A number of diverse methods can be used for gathering evidence to identify the mechanisms of abrasive-workpiece interactions. One possibility is to examine the grinding debris (swarf) produced by the process in order to theorize how it could have been produced. For this purpose, the scanning electron microscope (SEM) is an invaluable tool. Another approach is to measure the forces or power requirements of the process over a range of conditions. A fundamental parameter derived from these measurements is the specific grinding energy, which is defined as the energy expended per unit volume of material removal. The significance of this parameter lies in the fact that any proposed mechanism of abrasive-workpiece interaction must satisfy an energy balance which can account for the magnitude of the specific energy and its dependence on the processing conditions. A more direct observation of abrasive-workpiece interactions can be obtained from cutting experiments with single abrasive grains or with cutting tools shaped like grains. Of course, such results are valid only insofar as the cutting conditions accurately simulate those of abrasive grits in...
