On the Influence of Infra-Red Sensor in the Accurate Estimation of Grinding Temperatures

Workpiece rejection originated by thermal damage is of great concern in high added-value industries, such as automotive or aerospace. Surface temperature control is vital to avoid this kind of damage. Difficulties in empirical measurement of surface temperatures in-process imply the measurement in points other than the ground surface. Indirect estimation of temperatures demands the use of thermal models. Among the numerous temperature measuring techniques, infra-red measurement devices excel for their speed and accurate measurements. With all of this in mind, the current work presents a novel temperature estimation system, capable of accurate measurements below the surface as well as correct interpretation and estimation of temperatures. The estimation system was validated by using a series of tests in different grinding conditions that confirm the hypotheses of the error made when measuring temperatures in the workpiece below the surface in grinding. This method provides a flexible and precise way of estimating surface temperatures in grinding processes and has shown to reduce measurement error by up to 60%.