A Method and Device for Automated Grinding of Small Ceramic Elements

The paper describes an automated method for grinding small ceramic elements using a hyperboloid wheel. The problem of automating the process of machining elements made of nonmagnetic materials with a small area and low height has been solved. Automation of the grinding process was possible thanks to automatic clamping of workpieces in the machining zone and sequential processing by a specified number of grinding wheels. The workpieces were passed through successive machining zones. The division of the allowance of individual grinding wheels was made taking into account the characteristics of the workpieces and the requirements for the results of the machining. Obtaining a long grinding zone and the effect of automatic clamping of the workpieces was possible due to the inclination of the grinding wheel axis in relation to the plane of movement of the workpieces. Innovative aggregate grinding wheels were used for grinding. The aggregates containing diamond abrasive grains, connected with a metal bond, were embedded in the porous structure of the resin bond. The aggregates ensured high efficiency of grinding, and their developed surface contributed to good holding in the resin binder. The durability of grinding wheels was 64 h, which enables the machining of 76,000 ceramic elements.