Abrasive Tool and a Method for Finishing Complex Shapes in Workpieces

Abstract

An abrasive tool includes a bonded abrasive body having abrasive grains contained within a bonding material, wherein the bonded abrasive body comprises a complex shape having a form depth (FD) of at least about 0.3. The form depth is described by the equation [(R1−Rs)/R1], wherein Rs is a smallest radius (Rs) at a point along the longitudinal axis of the bonded abrasive body and R1 is a largest radius (R1) at a point along the longitudinal axis of the bonded abrasive body. The abrasive tool can be used to finish complex shapes in workpieces.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An abrasive tool comprising:
 a bonded abrasive body having abrasive grains dispersed throughout a three-dimensional volume of a bonding material, wherein the bonded abrasive body comprises a complex shape having a form depth (FD) of at least about 0.3, wherein the complex shape comprises a first radial flange extending from the bonded abrasive body at a first axial position.   
     
     
         2 . The abrasive tool of  claim 1 , wherein the first radial flange comprises a first surface extending radially from the bonded abrasive body at a first angle relative to a lateral axis of the bonded abrasive body. 
     
     
         3 . The abrasive tool of  claim 2 , wherein the first angle is an acute angle. 
     
     
         4 . The abrasive tool of  claim 1 , wherein the complex shape comprises a second radial flange extending from the bonded abrasive body at a second axial position, wherein the first radial flange and second radial flange are spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal axis of the bonded abrasive body. 
     
     
         5 . The abrasive tool of  claim 1 , wherein the bonded abrasive body comprises a form ratio (FR) of at least about 1.1. 
     
     
         6 . The abrasive tool of  claim 1 , wherein the complex shape comprises a radial channel extending between first and second radial flanges extending axially from the bonded abrasive body. 
     
     
         7 . The abrasive tool of  claim 1 , wherein the bonding material comprises a vitreous bonding material and wherein the vitreous bonding material comprises between about 2 vol % and about 60 vol % of the total volume of the bonded abrasive body. 
     
     
         8 . The abrasive tool of  claim 1 , wherein the form depth (FD) is within a range between about 0.3 and about 0.95. 
     
     
         9 . The abrasive tool of  claim 1 , wherein the abrasive grains have an average grit size of between about 20 microns and 100 microns. 
     
     
         10 . The abrasive tool of  claim 1 , wherein the abrasive grains comprise between about 6 vol % and about 54 vol % of the total volume of the bonded abrasive body. 
     
     
         11 . The abrasive tool of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises an amount of porosity within a range between about 2 vol % and about 30 vol % of the total volume of the bonded abrasive body. 
     
     
         12 . The abrasive tool of  claim 1 , wherein the first radial flange comprises a second surface adjacent the first surface and extending radially from the bonded abrasive body at a second angle relative to a lateral axis of the bonded abrasive body. 
     
     
         13 . The abrasive tool of  claim 12 , wherein the second angle is an acute angle. 
     
     
         14 . A method of operating an abrasive tool comprising:
 finishing a re-entrant shape opening in a workpiece using a mounted point abrasive tool comprising a bonded abrasive body comprising abrasive grains dispersed throughout a three-dimensional volume of a bonding material, wherein the bonded abrasive body comprises a complex shape having a form depth (FD) of at least about 0.3; and   plunge dressing the mounted point abrasive tool along a form length of the bonded abrasive body.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein dressing comprises rotating a dressing body at different velocities at different positions along a form length of the bonded abrasive body. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein finishing comprises forming a finished surface defining the re-entrant shape opening in the workpiece having an average surface roughness (R a ) of not greater than about 2 microns. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein during finishing a water-soluble coolant material is provided at an interface of the mounted point abrasive tool and a surface of the workpiece defining the re-entrant shaped opening. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein during finishing, the material removal rate is within a range between about 0.03 inches 3 /min/inch [0.32 mm 3 /sec/mm] and about 1.5 inches 3 /min/inch [16 mm 3 /sec/mm]. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein during finishing, the finishing power used is not greater than about 3 Hp [2.25 kW] at a feed rate of the mounted point tool within a range between about 30 ipm [762 mm/min] and about 300 ipm [7620 mm/min]. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein after finishing, the workpiece is essentially free of burn.