Development of a laser-guided deep-hole internal-grinding tool (series 1): Grinding forces

The laser-guided deep-hole internal grinding tool is developed to bore accurate and straight deep-holes with high surface quality. The tool consists of a grinding head, the front and rear actuators mounted on an actuator holder and a laser diode set in the back end of the holder. The grinding head consists of a diamond or CBN wheel, an air motor, and the piezoelectric actuators for the compensation of tool diameter. The grinding wheel is located eccentrically at the grinding head. The grinding is performed by the rotation of the grinding wheel and the rotation of the grinding head. In this paper, with the grinding forces, it is examined whether the air motor, which is used in the developed grinding head, can be used sufficiently as grinding motor. Further it is examined that the displacement of a grinding motor can be compensated by piezoelectric actuators, which are set up in the grinding head. The relationship between grinding torques and hole deviations during internal grinding of hardened steel S45C are examined and it is cleared that the developed grinding head can be used for finishing the deep hole when a depth of cut is small.