θAngle Controlled Grinding of Si₃N₄ Ball

Abstract

Spin angle controlled ball lapping method developed recently, is to have an excellent performance to lap the ball, in which V-groove lapping plate are separated into two parts and three plates are able to rotate independently. However, lapping of ceramic ball such as a silicon nitride(Si₃N₄) ball is very hard to finish its ball. Present paper focuses on spin angle controlled grinding of the Si₃N₄ ball using a diamond wheel. It is found that spin controlled grinding is sufficient to finish the Si₃N₄ ball. Experiments show that larger spin angle θ yields both higher stock removal rate and lower surface roughness of the ball. Measurements indicate that a sphericity of the ball is closely related to spin angle θ of the ball.