Experimental and numerical identification of process parameters of grind-hardening and resulting part distortions

Using the heat input into the workpiece during grinding to simultaneously realize surface hardening is the innovative approach of the grind-hardening process. Due to the complex physical phenomena within this process, the layout requires extensive experimental analysis to handle the surface hardening and the process-related part distortions. This paper presents a method supporting the layout by means of the finite element analysis (FEA). Besides the hardening depth distributions and the resulting distortions, the research results comprise the numerical identification of the range of the grind-hardening process regarding the analyzed parameter sets. Therewith, the FEA provides the possibility to meet the characteristics of the grind-hardening and to support the layout of the process efficiently.