Experimental study of MQL applicability in ADI grinding and its influence on surface topography

ABSTRACT When workpieces require tight tolerance or a good surface finish, grinding is usually the best solution. Yet this process is characterised by generating a great amount of heat that needs to be controlled. The minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) system emerged as an alternative to the flood cooling system. Nevertheless, the employment of the former in austempered ductile iron (ADI) surface grinding is still an unexplored topic. This research seeks to experimentally study the applicability of MQL and the influence of the wheel speed and workspeed, in the surface topography of ADI samples subjected to different conditions of surface grinding. ADI surface topography was acquired, then the roughness parameters and surface hardness alterations were determined. The results show that the application of MQL in ADI surface grinding is possible. The surface roughness is similar to that of the flood cooling system and the surface hardness alterations are small.