Application of optical sensor in grinding process

A recently developed optical sensor aims to track the cutting performance of grinding wheels. Utilizing the triangulation principle, this sensor has been integrated on the opposite side of the working area of an external grinding machine to study the topography of the grinding wheel, even while the grinding process is ongoing.

The sensor's output signals are analyzed by a digital data acquisition system, which manages the sensor's positioning and computes various parameters to assess the wheel's wear condition. These parameters account for both macroscopic and microscopic wear characteristics of the grinding wheel.