Abstract—Confocal laser scanning microscopy is a relatively new, extremely dynamic and rapidly developing variation of classical confocal microscopy. Recently, within the technical disciplines related to mechanical engineering and material sciences, an increasing interest in this technique has been observed. Modern, highly-efficient, automated machining processes. Often make use of grinding wheels with vitrified bond. When such an abrasive tool is in operation, its active surface becomes worn and numerous defects appear, which are highly disadvantageous to the machining process. It is therefore necessary to have a precise assessment of the grinding wheel surface. This article demonstrates that such an assessment can be carried out using an advanced confocal laser scanning microscopy technique. The 3D laser measuring microscope LEXT OLS4000 by Olympus, utilised in this work, enabled the precise measuring of ceramic grinding wheels with a technical designation 1-352010-CrA/F80J7V and visible microdiscontinuities shaped with an abrasive water-jet. An analysis of the measurement data obtained was carried out using OLS4000 2.1 and TalyMap Platinum 5.0 software. The results of this data included 2D surface images and maps, 2D profiles as well as 3D surface topographies with calculated parameters. These results also prove the high effectiveness and usability of, both, the experiments realized and the measurement method proposed. This method might complement, or extend, other methods that may be used in the diagnosis of abrasive tools.

Index Terms—Confocal laser scanning microscopy, Microdiscontinuities, Pink fused alumina, Vitrified bonded abrasive tools, Grinding wheels

Cite: Krzysztof Nadolny and Wojciech Kaplonek, "Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy for Characterization of Surface Microdiscontinuities of Vitrified Bonded Abrasive Tools," International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics Research, Vol.1, No. 1, pp. 14-29, April 2012.