Projeto de máquina de usinagem de esferas cerâmicas verdes

Abstract

This work deals with the design and manufacturing of a mini machine for grinding of green ceramic balls. Balls of advanced ceramics find wide application in high-precision components such as hybrid bearings or as bearings of hip prostheses. The large demand for advanced ceramic balls in these components is due to their unique combination of properties such as high dimensional stability, high hardness, low coefficient of thermal expansion, biocompatibility (bio inert) and high compressive strength. However the high performance can only be achieved if the balls have narrow tolerances (size and shape) and ultra-fine surface finish. This work aims to design and manufacture a mini prototype machine to obtain a green ceramic balls up to 30 mm in diameter. The project development was driven by a mechanical design methodology and after the concept generation a virtual pre-design has been generated followed by manufacturing a prototype, the initial concept is composed of three wheels, two of drag that having variables turning speeds and directions, promote a random orbital effect in the balls necessary to reduce the sphericity error. Spherical zirconia blanks were shaped by isostatic pressing and machined in the built prototype. The balls were characterized by measuring sphericity error and surface roughness.