Precision grinding of engineering ceramic based on the electrolytic dressing of a multi-layer brazed diamond wheel

Abstract A multi-layer brazed diamond wheel was produced by combing compression molding and vacuum brazing technology. In addition, electrolytic dressing was used to overcome the shortcoming that it is difficult for worn diamonds to fall off the brazed wheel owing to the high bonding strength between the diamonds and brazing alloy. A special electrolyte solution was prepared for electrolytic dressing of the multi-layer brazed diamond wheel, and grinding experiments with a Si3N4 ceramic were conducted to compare the grinding performance of the multi-layer brazed diamond wheel before and after electrolytic dressing. The results indicated that the prepared electrolyte solution could effectively allow the worn diamond grit to fall off the bonding matrix, which can improve the sharpness of the brazed wheel and obtain a good cutting ability. The grinding force of the multi-layer brazed diamond wheel after electrolytic dressing was smaller than that of the brazed diamond wheel during conventional grinding. Moreover, significant improvements in the surface roughness and topography of the ground surface were successfully achieved by using electrolytic dressing of the multi-layer brazed diamond wheel. Periodic electrolytic dressing of the multi-layer brazed diamond wheel has been shown to be an efficient method for realizing the precision machining of engineering ceramics.