Experimental Analysis for the Use of Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate as a Soluble Metal Cutting Fluid for Micromachining with Electroless-Plated Micropencil Grinding Tools

Abstract

Microgrinding with micropencil grinding tools (MPGTs) is a flexible and economic process to machine microstructures in hard and brittle materials. In macrogrinding, cooling and lubrication are done with metal cutting fluids; their application and influence is well researched. Although it can be expected that metal cutting fluids also play a decisive role in microgrinding, systematic investigations can hardly be found. A metal cutting fluid capable of wetting the machining process, containing quantities as small as 0.02% of the water-soluble fluid sodium dodecyl sulfate was tested in microgrinding experiments with MPGTs (diameter ~50 µm; abrasive grit size 2–4 µm). The workpiece material was hardened 16MnCr5.

Keywords

• microgrinding
• sodium dodecyl sulfate
• metal cutting fluid
• microstructures
• micropencil grinding tools