What does water mill mean?

Water mill is a processing method of grinding materials. Taking water as the matrix, a lubricating layer is formed between the abrasive and the processed material to achieve the purpose of grinding.

1. Working principle:

Water mill uses the lubricity of water to form a lubricating layer, which reduces the friction and heat between abrasive and processed material, thus reducing cutting force and surface temperature. In the process of water milling, water and abrasive are mixed to form a suspension, and the mixture is guided to the grinding area by spraying, spraying or soaking. Under the lubrication of water, the abrasive can be more evenly dispersed in the grinding range to achieve a finer and smoother grinding effect.

2. Application areas:

Water mill has been applied in many fields. In metal processing, water mill is widely used in precision grinding, high-speed grinding, polishing and deburring. In glass processing, water mills are used to make flat glass, lenses and optical devices. In stone processing, water mill is often used to polish, repair and trim stone. In addition, water mill is also used for processing ceramic materials, semiconductor materials, composite materials and some special materials.

3. Comparison with other grinding methods:

Compared with traditional dry grinding (no liquid lubrication), water mill is more environmentally friendly, because it takes water as the matrix and does not need to use harmful solvents or lubricating oil. Water mill can improve grinding speed and efficiency, and reduce processing time and cost. The cooling effect of water can reduce the heat generated in the grinding process and reduce the risk of thermal damage and material deformation. Water mill can get smoother and more precise surface and improve the surface quality of workpiece.

Expand knowledge:

Water mill has a long history of development. As early as hand grinding in ancient times, there were grinding methods with water as lubricant. The development of modern water mill technology is closely related to the combination of advanced spraying system, suspending agent and liquid circulation system. Water mill can not only improve the machining efficiency and surface quality, but also reduce the dust produced by grinding and the damage to operators.

Although water mill has many advantages, in some special cases, such as water-sensitive materials or special surface treatment requirements, other grinding methods may be needed to replace water mill.