Title: Optimisation of D2 steel lapping with a polymer plate

Authors: Yiying Zhang, Ioan D. Marinescu, Rick VandenBoom

Addresses: Precision Micro-Machining Center, Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, The University of Toledo, 2801 W. Bancroft St., Toledo, OH 43606, USA. ' Precision Micro-Machining Center, Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, The University of Toledo, 2801 W. Bancroft St., Toledo, OH 43606, USA. ' FriCSo Inc., 34119 W. Twelve Mile Rd., Suite 300, Farmington Hills, Michigan 48331, USA

Abstract: Experimental research on surface roughness and material removal rate of D2 steel lapping is carried out using a polymer plate. The tribological mechanism of lapping for ductile materials is presented and the polymer-based lap plate is described in this study. Thus, an investigation is conducted using ANOVA method to determine the effects of lapping time, lap rotation speed, applied load and abrasive particle size on the lapping process for D2 steel discs with the polymer-coated plate. Regression models are put forward and verified for predicting surface roughness and material removal rate (MRR) as a result of the control variables. An optimal combination of process parameters is given for optimising the lapping process.

Keywords: steel lapping; abrasive technology; material removal rate; MRR; surface roughness; polymer plates; optimisation; lapping time; lap rotation speed; pressure; grit size; tribology.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAT.2010.034051

International Journal of Abrasive Technology, 2010 Vol.3 No.3, pp.203 - 214

Published online: 06 Jul 2010 *

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