Modeling of Virtual Grinding Wheel and its Grinding Simulation

Based on virtual reality technology, a friendly human-computer interaction interface and virtual machining environment were developed by Visual C++ and OpenGL. Considering the inhomogeneity of grain size and randomicity of grain distribution, virtual grinding wheel was modeled by taking ortho-hexahedron as basic shape of abrasive grains and randomly distributes them on the wheel base. Mathematic model of interference between abrasive grain and workpiece was established. By using the virtual grinding wheel modeled, surface grinding processes with different machining parameters were simulated. The simulation results show that the system could make operators have a further understanding to chip formation, and the machining results could reflect realistic surface topography of workpiece. Complex grinding process can be realistically simulated. It provides visualization models for the research of grinding mechanism and production forecast.