Application of Advanced Ceramics to the Sliding Guideways of Machine Tools (Friction Characteristics of Ceramics Sliders under Water Lubrication)

The machining accuracy and the productivity strongly depend on the performances of the guideways of the machine tools. Sliding guideways have been conventionally applied to machine tool tables because of their high damping abilities. However, there are some demerits such as stick-slip motion at low sliding velocities and temperature rise during high-speed operation due to their high friction resistance. In this paper, the application of advanced ceramics to the sliding guideways of machine tools is proposed. The friction characteristics of ceramics slideways is investigated under water lubrication. The friction characteristics depends on the surface roughness of the ceramics sliders. Grinding fluid is also applied as a lubricant, and it gives quite low frictional coefficient. The stickslip motion occurs under water lubrication, but it can be suppres sed by improving the surface roughness of the sliding elements. No stick-slip motion occurs under grinding fluid lubrication.