Prediction of future wear characteristics of metallic components in which the machining forces are measured during machining and used to predict the future wear characteristics of macroscopic areas of the component

摘要

Method for making simple predictions about the future wear characteristics of metal components in which to detect differences in the surface condition of metal components the actual resistance to machining is noted for macroscopic areas during the machining process. The measured resistance is taken as an indicator of the expected in-service wear characteristics. The invention is particularly applicable to rotationally symmetric components, such as train wheels, or prismatic components. Advantageously groups of components having similar measured predicted wear characteristics can be used together in assemblies of individual components so that all will have similar lifetimes. The invention also relates to an arrangement for measuring the resistance to machining during machining by measuring the actual machining forces and relating them to the design or expected forces. The invention being readily applicable to CNC or DNC controlled machine tools.