A surface roughness predictive model in deterministic polishing of ground glass moulds

The introduction of deterministic NC grinding and polishing operations, in the manufacturing of free- form glass components for precision optics, requires the characterization of surface topography evolution as a function of process parameters. In this work, a model based on Reye’s wear hypothesis is proposed for the assessment of surface roughness prediction as a function of operating parameters, in the deterministic polishing process of glass moulds. Accordingto Reye’s hypothesis, the removed material per unit area is proportional to the work due to the friction force: the removed material per unit area can be computed by adequately integrating the areal material ratio function (Abbott–Firestone curve) of the surface and can be associated with the amplitude roughness parameter; the work due to the friction force per unit area is proportional to the integral of the product of pressure and velocity in the time interval and can be derived from the process parameters by means of the Hertz theory. The model assessment was performed on ground glass flat samples polished with different operating parameters, mapping the surface roughness using an atomic force microscope (AFM). The developed model shows a satisfactory estimate of surface roughness evolution during the polishing process and confirms the experimental results found in the literature for the Preston coefficient.