Surface finish in robotic disk grinding

In spite of the various complexities, the ground surface during robotic grinding shows a definite and distinct surface texture. This paper presents a simple model for the surface finish produced during this process. The model is based on two simple assumptions. First is that though many grits remove material, the last grit that cuts largely in the ground surface determines the surface finish value. The second assumption is that the average shape of the active grit is spherical which generates a groove of parabolic cross section. The model is shown to be consistent with surface finish values measured experimentally during robotic rigid disk grinding and is able to predict the effect on surface finish to be expected when a given grinding variable is changed. It can be used for the purpose of process planning to improve the surface finish when desired.