Effects of a variety of cutting fluids administered using the minimum quantity lubrication method on the surface grinding process for nickel-based alloys

This paper presents the characteristics of nickel-based alloys, alongside their division into groups, and describes the features that make such materials difficult to grind. The possibilities of exerting a positive influence upon machining conditions, especially through the proper application of grinding fluids, are briefly presented. Both the precise methodologies for, and the results of, the experimental tests carried out on flat surfaces are also detailed. The aim of these tests was to determine the influence of the application of two types of grinding liquid (Ecocut Mikro Plus 82 and Biocut 3000) upon the grinding force values and surface roughness of the machined workpieces made from three nickel alloys (Nickel 201, INCONEL® alloy 600, and MONEL® alloy 400). An additional goal of the tests was to determine the influence of grinding wheel structure on the course and results of the machining process. The results indicate that the physical and chemical properties of Biocut 3000 enabled the most advantageous properties of the machined surface roughness, alongside a simultaneous increase in grinding power, when compared to the results when applying Ecocut Mikro Plus 82. The results showed an almost inversely proportional dependence upon the specific tangential grinding force F t′ and arithmetic mean deviation of the surface profile R a values, especially in cases of machining Nickel 201 and INCONEL® alloy 600. The original traverse grinding methodology used in the tests made it possible to assess the changes of the grinding conditions within the conventionally selected zones.