1010 Shape Adaptive Grinding (SAG) : a new Process for Finishing of Ceramics and High-performance Alloys

Abstract

Shape Adaptive Grinding (SAG) is a new process for freeform finishing of difficult materials such as ceramics and high-performance alloys. The basic principle of SAG can be described as "semi-elasticity": compliance is achieved with freeform workpieces by an elastic spherical tool, while hard contact is simultaneously achieved by small rigid pellets covering this elastic tool (diamond or cubic boron nitride super-abrasives are embedded in these pellets). In this paper, we present recent developments in the application of SAG to (1) corrective grinding of aspheric silicon carbide optics, and (2) smoothing of high-performance titanium alloy components produced by additive manufacturing.