Superfinishing and grind-strengthening with elastic bonding system

This paper presents with a new grinding strategy for a surface superfinishing and a grind-strengthening of the surface layer of steels in a single grinding step. To grind-strengthen a surface layer both abrasive material removal and a plastic deformation are needed. This combination together with an appropriate grinding wheel design offers the possibility to ensure high precision surfaces with a consistent quality finish that meets the highest standards. This kind of grinding process could be applied to bearings, for example. During the run-in period, the initial contact surfaces change until they stabilize to a running-in condition and have a new surface topography. Grinding with the new process strategy leads to benefits because a grind-strengthened surface layer eliminates initial wear and abrasion within the system, reduces surface finish roughness, extends fatigue strength, and reduces risk of part failure during operation.