Dressing and truing of hybrid bonded CBN grinding tools using a short-pulsed fibre laser

This paper presents the results of an investigation into the dressing and truing of hybrid bonded (metal-vitrified) CBN grinding wheels using a short-pulsed fibre laser. Truing of complex contours on CBN grinding tools with sharp edges (edge radii of less than 20 μm) could be successfully applied, whereas other dressing methods have been neither technically nor economically successful. Sharpening by laser can provide the same wheel surface topography which is conventionally produced by SiC and/or Al2O3 sharpening tools. Grinding characteristics and long-term performance of the laser-profiled tools are discussed.