A Novel Eccentric Lapping Method with Two Rotatable Lapping Plates for Finishing Cemented Carbide Balls

Cemented carbide balls are usually implemented in
industry under the environment of high speed, high temperature,
corrosiveness and strong collisions. However, its application is limited
due to high fabrication cost, processing efficiency and quality. A novel
eccentric lapping method with two rotatable lapping plates was
proposed in this paper. A mathematical model was constructed to
analyze the influence of each design parameter on this lapping method.
To validate this new lapping method, an orthogonal experiment was
conducted with cemented carbide balls (YG6). The simulation model
was verified and the optimal lapping parameters were derived. The
results show that the surface roundness of the balls reaches to 0.65um
from 2um in 1 hour using this lapping method. So, using this novel
lapping method, it can effectively improve the machining precision
and efficiency of cemented carbide balls.

• C. C. Lv
• Y. L. Sun
• D. W. Zuo

• Cemented carbide balls
• eccentric lapping
• high precision
• lapping tracks
• V-groove.

[1] F. Itoigawa, T. Nakamura, K. Funabashi, “Steel ball lapping by lap with
V-shape groove,” Transactions of the Japan Society of Mechanical
Engineers. C, vol. 59, no. 562, 1993, pp. 1906–1912.
[2] K. Goto, H. Mizumoto, “A lapping system for ultra-precision bearing
balls,” Journal of the Japan Society of Precision Engineering, vol. 62, no.
5, 1996, pp. 681–685.
[3] K. Goto, H. Mizumoto, “The influence of the groove depth of laps on the
waviness generated on lapped balls in ball lapping,” Journal of the Japan
Society of Precision Engineering, vol. 64, no. 5, 1998, pp. 743-747.
[4] B. H. Lv, “Research on ceramic ball lapping and sphere-shaping
mechanism with rotated dual-plates machine,” Zhejiang University of
Technology, 2007.
[5] W. Angele, “Finishing high precision quartz balls,” Precision
Engineering, vol. 2, no. 3, 1980, pp. 119-122.
[6] T. Kurobe, H. Kakuta, and M. Onoda, “Spin angle control lapping of balls
(1st report): theoretical analysis of lapping mechanism,” Journal of Japan
Society for Precision Engineering, vol. 62, no. 12, 1996 pp. 1773-1777.
[7] T. Kurobe, H. Kakuta, and M. Onoda, “Spin angle control lapping of balls
(2nd report): lapping of silicon nitride ball,” Journal of Japan Society for
Precision Engineering, vol. 63, no. 5, 1997, pp. 726- 730.
[8] Y. Tani, and K. Kawata, “Development of high-efficient fine finishing
process using magnetic fluid,” Journal of Japan Society of Lubrication
Engineers, vol. 30, 1985, pp. 472-276.
[9] J. Wang and H. W. Zhen, “A new lapping method for ceramic ball
lapping,” Diamond & Abrasives Engineering, vol. 4, no. 96, 1996, pp.
15-18.
[10] H. Wen and Y. S. Liu, “Planetary Lapping Technology for
Cemented-carbide Balls,” Bearing, vol. 11, 2009, pp. 12-15.
[11] J. Kang and M. Hadfield, “Parameter optimization by Taguchi methods
for finishing advanced ceramic balls using a novel eccentric lapping
machine,” Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part
B: Journal of Engineering Manufacture, vol. 215, no. 2001, pp. 69-78.
[12] J. Kang and M. Hadfield, “A novel eccentric lapping machine for
finishing advanced ceramic balls,” Proceedings of the Institution of
Mechanical Engineers, Part B: Journal of Engineering Manufacture, vol.
215, 2001, pp. 781-795.
[13] J. Kang and M. Hadfield, “The polishing process of advanced ceramic
balls using a novel eccentric lapping machine,” Proceedings of the
Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part B: Journal of Engineering
Manufacture, vol. 219, 2001, pp. 493-504.
[14] L. F. Nie and X. J. Zhao, “Discussion on shaping mechanism of steel ball
and its affect factors,” Bearing, vol. 1, 2001, pp. 16-18.
[15] F. Zhang, X. B. Cao and J. X. Zou, “A new large-scale transformation
algorithm of quaternion to Euler Angle,” Journal of Nanjing University of
Science and Technology, vol. 26, no. 4, 2002, pp. 376-380.