The proper selection of operating conditions has a strong impact on process performance. In the last decade, process modeling and simulation has been established as an excellent tool for assessing and optimizing them. In particular, grinding is a very complex process depending on a large number of correlated factors, and the selection of optimal parameters is extremely important in order to maintain stable conditions during the process.
The CIRP keynote article, ‘‘Modelling and Simulation of Grinding Processes’’ (To¨nshoff et al., 1992), was published reviewing the latest most commonly used physical=empirical models to simulate the process outputs, that can be used for optimization. More recently, in the CIRP keynote by Brinksmeier et al.
(2006), an overview of the current state of the art is presented, as well as capabilities, limitations and future trends of other different approaches to the modeling and simulation of grinding processes, which are the basis for illustrating the insights of the grinding processes and enabling the final development of industrially demanded systematic approaches in order to maximize process productivity.
