Productive and environmental performance indicators analysis by a combined LCA hybrid model and real-time manufacturing process monitoring: A grinding unit process application

Among machining processes, grinding has been used to achieve high dimensional tolerances and surface quality on workpieces. Yet, high levels of energy expenditure per volume of removed material and the need for cutting fluids make grinding one of the most environmentally impactful machining processes. Furthermore, changes in parameters such as grain and bond specifications of the grinding wheel, cutting speed, and specific material removal rate can lead to different productive and environmental results. Thus, the analysis of grinding processes should not be aggregated and leveraged into a single and broad output parameter. Instead, comprehensive study should be performed, in which the most relevant process parameters, inputs and outputs are considered. This paper presents a detailed study of grinding process, including the characterization of machine subunits and production modes, along with the use of a combined life cycle assessment hybrid model and real-time monitoring system to evaluate the consumption of energy, tooling, cutting fluid and compressed air. A detailed cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment study using eleven different impact categories and a productive performance assessment were performed to evaluate the effects on varying specific material removal rate and wheel type. For equal values of specific material removal rate, the change from a conventional wheel to a cubic boron nitride represented a power requirement increase of 19–24%. Cubic boron nitride wheel achieved remarkably better results on the wheel wear and part roughness indicators for all tested conditions. The environmental performance assessment showed a strict relation between the process environmental impacts and the consumption of electric energy and cutting fluid. To conclude, despite the higher power requirements, the combination of cubic boron nitride wheel with high values of specific material removal rate optimizes both the productive and the environmental results.