Grinding Fluid Application System Design

Abstract Coolant application in grinding processes is becoming more important as stock removal rates are increased and higher quality is demanded. This study has analyzed the limitations of current application systems and used fluid mechanics to develop flow conditioners to compensate for bends in pipes. New nozzle designs are presented that give long coherent jets, up to 45 m/s, maximizing the application of fluid into the grinding zone. The influence of nozzle position, jet velocity, and distance from the grinding zone is presented. A 26.5% increase in wheel life as a result of coolant application optimization during grinding of an aerospace component is reported.