Patent ID: 6019668
Filing Date: 2000-02-01
Classification: B22F,B24B,B24D

Abstract:
A method of finishing brittle precision components comprising the steps:a) mounting a cylindrical workpiece on a fixture;b) mounting an abrasive wheel on a grinding machine, the abrasive wheel comprising a core and a continuous abrasive rim, the core having a minimum specific strength of 2.4 MPa-cm.sup.3 /g, and a circular perimeter adhesively bonded with a thermally stable bond to at least one abrasive segment in the abrasive rim, the abrasive segment consisting essentially of abrasive grain and a metal bond matrix having a fracture toughness of 1.0 to 6.0 MPa M.sup.1/2 and a maximum porosity of 5 volume %;c) rotating the abrasive wheel at a speed of 25 to 160 meters/second;d) contacting the abrasive wheel to an exterior surface of a rotating workpiece; ande) grinding the workpiece at a MRR of up to 380 cm.sup.3 /min/cm to finish the exterior surface of the ceramic component; whereby after finishing, the ceramic component is substantially free of cracking and subsurface damage from grinding.