Abrasiveness properties assessment of coated abrasives for precision belt grinding

This paper addresses a study to achieve a method of assessment of coated abrasives for precision belt grinding based on the identification of the prevailing relationships between the changing features of fixed grains on flexible coated belts and grinding performance. A set of parameters was defined which describe the aluminium oxide resin-bonded belt characteristics including active grits density, cutting edge dullness, chip storage space and mean effective indentation. A parametric study was made of the effects of coated belt characteristics on surface finish performance with different grain sizes for grinding different workpiece materials. Experimental results are discussed in relation to the prevailing mechanisms of the process at the belt-work interface which can be separated into cutting and ploughing components. This enables also to describe the grit wear mechanisms operating with coated abrasives when grinding two engineering materials. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.