Characterization of geometrical properties of electroplated diamond tools and estimation of its grinding performance

This paper focused on screening the characterization methods for geometrical properties of electroplated diamond tools for analyzing the effect on its performance in mirror finish of steel using ultrasonic vibration assisted grinding. The machining condition was reviewed and important information from the tool topography was identified. Point autofocus profiling, confocal microscopy and white light interferometer were selected for tool characterization. Evaluation of the measurement systems based on quantity of missing data, quantity of outliers, feature parameters and measuring time was performed. Pre-processed tool topography data from confocal microscopy and white light interferometer showed nearly equal quality, appropriate for tool characterization. The necessity to redefine the reference datum for height measurement on the tool topography was highlighted.