Reducing Wear of Abrasive Wheels Grinding Aerospace Alloys by Laser Assisted Cleaning

A new method for cleaning loaded grinding wheels is introduced by applying a CO₂ laser pulse to the wheel surface. It is shown that effective cleaning can be achieved by the selection of adequate laser power flux and irradiation duration. Fusion and evaporation of clogged chips play an important role in the laser cleaning process and subsequent wear of the grinding wheel. It is suggested that high laser power irradiance of short duration is essential for effective wheel cleaning and reduced wear of the grinding wheel with specially developed bonds.