Patent ID: 6220933
Filing Date: 2001-04-24
Classification: B24B,B24D

Abstract:
A method for grinding a workpiece formed from one of the group consisting of zirconia, silicon nitride and other ceramics having Knoop hardness of 1000-1,100 kg/mm.sup.2, including the steps offorming a grinding wheel with a peripheral work surface including abrasive particles of Knoop hardness on the order of 2,800 kg/mm.sup.2 embedded in a matrix of bonding material of medium (P) to low (S) porosity having a Knoop hardness of 600 Kg/mm.sup.2 or less;rotating the grinding wheel at an angular rate sufficient to cause the peripheral work surface to obtain a speed of at least 20 meters/second; andadvancing the peripheral work surface of the grinding wheel into grinding engagement with the workpiece at an in-feed rate of at least 0.01 mm/second to form workpiece particles to cause erosion of bonding material to expose the cutting portion of the embedded grinding particles.