ABSTRACT
The main abrasive machining operations are surface grinding, cylindrical grinding, internal grinding, centerless grinding, creep-feed grinding, honing, and lapping [1]. A number of other, specialty grinding machines are also used in manufacturing. Steels and cast iron are most commonly ground, but aluminum, brass, bronze, copper, titanium, nickel alloys, nylon, carbides, and ceramics are also ground. Grinding is one of the few effective ways of shaping hard, brittle materials like ceramics while they are cold. Surface grinding is the most common abrasive machining operation, and it involves grinding flat surfaces. Work pieces are held to the work table of the grinder via a magnetic chuck. If the work piece is not magnetic, it is held by vises, vacuum chucks, double-sided adhesive tape, or special fixtures [2]. A grinding wheel, mounted on the horizontal spindle of the grinder, rotating at 1500-3000 m/min, is used to remove material. A typical horizontal spindle surface grinder is shown in Figure 20.1.
