Theoretical and experimental analysis of temperature distribution in variable-depth reciprocating grinding process

Grinding is widely utilized in minimally invasive surgery due to its handleability and high precision. However, the substantial heat generated during the grinding process can lead to localized temperature increases, which cause thermal damage to surrounding healthy tissues. This study investigates the temperature distribution in the variable-depth reciprocating grinding process by developing a heat flux density model for the spatially irregular grinding contact surface. A User Defined Function (UDF) subroutine was developed to numerically simulate temperature distribution based on this heat flux density model. To validate the model, bone grinding experiments were conducted under various spindle speeds and cutting depths, with temperature measurements taken from the bone. The simulation results demonstrated high accuracy in experimental temperatures. Additionally, numerical simulations were performed to visualize the thermal damage range during bone grinding. The findings indicate that, under specific grinding conditions—such as a cutting depth of 0.2 mm at 10,000 rpm and 0.1 mm at 30,000 rpm—the thermal damage depth is relatively shallow, measuring only 0.07 mm. These results provide valuable insights for orthopedic surgeons regarding the influence of grinding parameters on bone temperature and establish a solid foundation for selecting optimal grinding parameters in orthopedic robotic systems for clinical applications.