The application of three-dimensional surface measurement techniques to characterizing grinding wheel topography

Two differing grinding wheels were dressed under similar conditions and their resulting surface topographies were measured using three-dimensional contacting profilometery techniques. Through the use of newly developed three-dimensional numerical surface characterization parameters, aerial estimations of the number of static cutting points and static cutting grains were made, and the results compared with those obtained by other workers. The techniques used proved useful for both qualitative and quantitative analysis of the wheel topography. The results obtained compared favourably with those of other workers. The effects of sampling strategy on the results are discussed and optimum sampling conditions suggested.