Function-Oriented Lapping and Polishing of Ceramic Rolling Elements through Characterization of Workpiece Surface

Ceramic materials are exceptionally well suited for highly loaded functional surfaces. Their brittleness, however, requires exact knowledge of those cutting conditions ensuring compliance with the requested function since the surface topography is of decisive importance for the later functional behaviour. On the example of lapping and polishing of ceramic rolling elements, the relationship between surface topography and rolling wear is demonstrated. A comparison of conventional and newly developed roughness parameters for evaluation the rolling wear shows that descriptive wear models can only be built up with new roughness parameters. First results obtained with a new roughness parameter are presented.