Diamond Grinding of Ceramic Balls in an Annular Groove

The results of experimental study on the effect of the treatment regime on the shape accuracy of balls and the surface wear of a diamond wheel are presented for the diamond grinding of silicon nitride ceramic balls in an annular groove and with circular feed. The indicators of the shape accuracy of ground balls are the variance of ball diameters, the out-of-roundness profile shape factor, and wheel surface wear characterized by the radial working surface tilt angle and curvature coefficient. This effect is adequately described by the linear dependences of the ball diameter variance on the circular feed rate and wheel speed, the shape factor on the wheel speed, and the tilt angle and curvature coefficient on the circular feed rate. The treatment regime parameters, at which the studied ball grinding scheme is reasonable for application, are predicted.