Modelling of grinding gap macro geometry and workpiece kinematics in throughfeed centreless grinding

The paper discusses the simulation of a throughfeed centreless grinding process in a virtual environment (VE). The developed simulations are based on an analytical grinding gap model describing the grinding gap macro geometry and workpiece kinematics. First of all, the model is embedded in a desktop application (Cegris), which facilitates regulating wheel truing and the determination of set-up variables, both of which yield an optimal grinding gap macro geometry in a reduced set-up time. Finally, the Cegris is ported to a CAVE (CAVE Automatic Virtual Environment) for an interactive visualisation of the process, an application used to train machine tool operators.     

Influence of contact loss between workpiece and grinding wheel on the roundness errors in centreless grinding

The objective of this paper is the study of certain non-linear phenomena in the centreless grinding process and their effect on roundness quality. These phenomena arise as a consequence of contact loss between workpiece and grinding wheel. A simplified analysis of the problem is carried out to determine the main parameters involved. A qualitative assessment of the effect of these parameters is undertaken by means of a time simulation based on a non-linear bi-dimensional model of the centreless grinding process. Two situations are analysed: the steady process, and the transient spark-out process. The results, which are generalised in graphics form provide an estimation of roundness errors resulting from working under linearly unstable conditions. Finally, a correlation between theoretical and experimental results is presented.     

圆柱零件无心磨削时导轮廓形研究

通过对砂轮、导轮、工件、托板坐标系相互位置的分析，建立了导轮廓形的数学模型，得到圆柱零件无心磨削时导轮廓形的表面特征。经过实验得出了导轮廓形面与工件半径的关系曲线。理论分析和计算表明：位移量h存在时，导轮表面是准双曲面的一部分。导轮廓形的曲率随着工件半径r的增大而减少。提出了用金刚石笔修整导轮廓形时的机床调整参数。通过数值模拟，建立了目标函数。应用参数化法获得最优参数值，提高了无心磨削圆柱零件的加工精度。     

Rounding and stability in centreless grinding

The paper presents a method for selecting grinding conditions and assists researchers to understand the complex dynamics of centreless grinding. It overcomes the problem of deriving dynamic stability charts for particular geometries and difficulty of interpreting such charts to adjust work speed to overcome lobing problems. Classic dynamic stability charts cannot assess stability levels in proximity to integer lobes, a particular problem for centreless grinding. The paper overcomes these problems employing a simply calculated new dynamic stability parameter A_dyn. The new parameter A_dyn simplifies the optimisation of grinding variables including set-up geometry and work speed in relation to resonant frequency. It is difficult to interpret relative dynamic stability of centreless grinding by classical methods for different set-ups, work speeds and numbers of lobes. A new method is employed in this paper based on the well-established Nyquist stability criterion. The dynamic stability parameter A_dyn is based on the real part of the characteristic equation. It is easily computed and presented on a single chart for particular work speed, resonant frequency and for a wide range of numbers of lobes. The method clearly shows the effect on rounding strength both for stable and unstable conditions. Most authors computing dynamic stability charts have ignored positive down boundaries and negative up boundaries showing a lack of a comprehensive treatment for a situation that conflicts with recommendations for conventional positive up boundaries. The new method simplifies this problem.Small differences in set-up geometry and work speed selection can be easily assessed. The new method can be used as a diagnostic tool for adjusting grinding conditions to overcome roundness problems. The user is not constrained by a historic set-up range since there are practical situations where other set-ups are preferred such as small tangent angles for large and heavy work-pieces, and even negative tangent angle for some types of centreless machine.Previous research is reviewed to provide an understanding of the need for a new approach to stability. Practical implications are explained for selection of grinding conditions. The method is supported by reference to experimental results.     

Precision, Stability and Productivity Increase in Throughfeed Centerless Grinding

Centerless grinding is a high precision manufacturing process commonly applied to the mass production of many industrial components. However, workpiece roundness is critically affected by geometric lobing and no practical tool has been developed to solve the problem in throughfeed working mode. Based on simulation methods previously applied to plunge grinding, a new software tool has been developed in this work. The software determines the optimal working configuration and can be used to reduce set-up time and improve three important features: 1) Precision, as the roundness error is rapidly corrected at the optimal configuration. 2) Productivity, since the workpiece stock can be significantly reduced. 3) Stability, because the process is less sensitive to the original roundness error of the workpiece.     

A study on the effect of regulating wheel error on the roundness of workpiece in centreless grinding by computer simulation

This paper deals with a simulated study of the centreless grinding operation to understand the role played by the regulating wheel errors on the roundness of the workpiece. Regulating wheels with a flat and specific number of lobes as errors were used for this study. A flat on the regulating wheel increases the roundness error of the work and a projection is formed on the workpiece whenever the flat contacts the workpiece. A lobed regulating wheel produces components with high roundness error and this error shoots up to higher values whenever the number of lobes on the regulating wheel equals a full multiple of regulating wheel-work diameter ratio.     

The effect of machine stiffness on grinding of silicon nitride

This study investigates the effect of machine stiffness on normal forces, actual depth of cut, and workpiece strength in grinding of silicon nitride. To obtain a grinding system with an adjustable stiffness, a compliant workholder is added to a precision grinder. Single-pass and multi-pass grinding experiments are conducted to evaluate the effect of machine stiffness. Cup-type diamond wheels of two different bond types and three grit sizes are used in the grinding experiments. Static and dynamic simulation is carried out to correlate grinding forces and actual depth of cut with machine stiffness. Since the simulation uses a time-domain model, it can accommodate non-linearities caused by the effect of machine stiffness on grinding forces and actual wheel depth of cut, workpiece regeneration, wheel wear, as well as wheel bond type and grit size effects, etc. Particularly, the model allows simulating grinding instability and the interference phenomenon due to residual material removal in multi-pass grinding. The study concludes that both simulation and experimental results have a good agreement.     

Optimization of Set-up Conditions for Stability of The Centerless Grinding Process

The stability of the centerless grinding process is very sensitive to the set-up conditions due to the uniqueness of the work-holding system. Centerless grinding produces precision components with high productivity only when the set-up condition is optimally chosen. This paper describes the effect of set-up conditions on three stability criteria of the centerless grinding system. It also presents guidelines for determining proper set-up conditions to avoid spinners, chatter vibration and roundness problems. Finally, an algorithm for providing the optimum set-up condition based on process aims is proposed and the simulation results are discussed.     

Simulation investigation of through-feed centerless grinding process performed on a surface grinder

This paper proposes a simulation method for investigating the through-feed centerless grinding process performed on a surface grinder, where a compact centerless grinding unit, composed of a guide plate, an ultrasonic elliptic-vibration shoe, a blade, and their respective holders, is installed onto the worktable of a surface grinder, and the through-feed centerless grinding operation is performed as the workpiece located on the guide plate is fed into the space between the grinding wheel and ultrasonic shoe. The geometrical arrangement of the grinding apparatus including the contact lines on the grinding wheel, ultrasonic shoe, and blade are analyzed firstly for building a 3-D simulation model. Then, the workpiece forming process and the effects of major process parameters such as the workpiece eccentric angle, the stock removal, the ultrasonic shoe tilt angle and the applied voltage amplitude on the machining accuracy (i.e. workpiece cylindricity and roundness) are clarified by simulation and experiments. The obtained results indicate that higher machining accuracy can be achieved under the conditions of larger workpiece stock removal, smaller ultrasonic shoe tilt angle and higher applied voltage amplitude, while the workpiece eccentric angle is at 6°.     

A local process model for simulation of robotic belt grinding

A local process model to estimate the material removal rate in robotic belt grinding is presented and applied to the process simulation system. It calculate the acting force by incorporating the local geometry information of the workpiece instead of the cutting depth parameter with only one certain value as in a global grinding model. The simulation accuracy can be improved to below 5% even for a non-uniform contact under stable cutting conditions.     

Centreless burnishing and influence of its parameters on machining effects

The article presents the results of examining the centreless roller burnishing technology worked out by the authors. The structure and the construction details of a prototype device for the centreless burnishing of shafts were presented. The experiments were carried on using 41Cr4 steel workpieces. The effects of the workpiece hardness, the surface roughness before burnishing, the deformation multiplicity and the tool interference on the roughness and the geometric structure after burnishing were investigated. The significant influence of the above parameters was confirmed and described as a mathematical power model. It also showed a beneficial effect of centreless burnishing parameters on roughness and geometric structure of the surface.     

超声振动辅助缓进给磨削温度场仿真与试验分析

目的通过对比研究磨削过程中超声振动辅助缓进给磨削工件表面的温度变化,验证超声振动对磨削热的影响,为进一步研究磨削机理提供依据。方法基于磨削温度场解析模型,建立了磨削热源平均强度。运用ANSYS软件热分析模块分别对普通缓进给磨削和超声辅助缓进给磨削进行了工件表面温度场仿真,得到了不同载荷步的温度场分布以及工件表面的温度时间变化曲线,较准确地反映了磨削工件时工件表面的温度变化。结果试验和模拟表明,缓进给磨削工件时,工件表面温度较高,对工件施加超声振动后,能够有效降低磨削力,减少磨削过程中产生的热量,降低工件表面温度20%左右。结论超声振动辅助磨削工件时,由于工件高频振动导致磨粒与工件间断性接触,使磨削过程变为有规律的脉冲状断续磨削,有利于工件散热,降低了磨削温度,为避免缓进给磨削时容易出现的磨削烧伤现象提供了技术支持。     

Effects of process parameters on workpiece roundness in tangential-feed centerless grinding using a surface grinder

The present authors proposed a new centerless grinding method using a surface grinder in their previous study [Wu, Y., Kondo, T., Kato, M., 2005. A new centerless grinding technique using a surface grinder. J. Mater. Process. Technol. 162–163, 709–717]. In this method, a compact centerless grinding unit composed mainly of an ultrasonic elliptic-vibration shoe is installed onto the worktable of a multipurpose surface grinder to perform tangential-feed centerless grinding operations. However, for the complete establishment of the new method it is crucial to clarify the workpiece rounding process and the effects of process parameters such as the worktable feed rate, the stock removal and the workpiece rotational speed on the machining accuracy, i.e., workpiece roundness, so that the optimum grinding conditions can be determined. In this paper, the effects of the process parameters on workpiece roundness are investigated by simulation and experiments. For the simulation analysis, a grinding model taking into account the elastic deformation of the machine is created. Then, a practical way to determine the machining-elasticity parameter is developed. Further, simulation analysis is carried out to predict the variation of workpiece roundness during grinding and to discover how the process parameters affect the roundness. Finally, actual grinding operations are performed by installing the previously constructed unit onto a CNC surface grinder to confirm the simulation results. The obtained results indicate that: (1) a slower worktable feed rate and higher workpiece rotational speed give better roundness; (2) better roundness can be also obtained when the stock removal is set at a larger value; (3) the workpiece roundness was improved from an initial value of 23.9 μm to a final value of 0.84 μm after grinding.     

Temperature distribution in a workpiece during cylindrical plunge grinding

In cylindrical plunge grinding, a large amount of heat flows into the workpiece continuously, accumulates and remains even after the process, which causes dimensional error. Therefore it is necessary to investigate the temperature distribution in the workpiece during grinding and analyze the influence of grinding heat on the dimension. Such an investigation has not been done enough, because the technology to measure the temperature distribution in the rotating workpiece has not matured. Considering such background, an in-process measuring system has been developed, which makes it possible to detect the temperature distribution in a wide range from the outer surface to the inside of the rotating workpiece. The system consists of small temperature sensors which are embedded into the workpiece, a micro computer attached on the workpiece which acquires the data from the sensors and transmits to a personal computer by a wireless communication device. Furthermore the contact type thermocouple which enables to measure the rotating surface temperature is added to the system. Measurement experiments revealed that the grinding heat conducts from the workpiece surface toward the center, accumulates, and remains in the workpiece even after the process. Heat conduction simulation was also performed. Good agreement was achieved between the simulated temperatures and experimental measurements.     

The influence of grinding process on forced vibration damping in headstock of grinding wheel of cylindrical grinder

The paper describes theoretical analysis of dynamics of system: machine–tool–workpiece for cylindrical plunge grinding. The functional as well as mathematical model of grinder equipped with hydrostatic bearing of grinding wheel spindle and hydrostatic slideways has been presented in the paper. Simulations based on that model allow qualitative investigation of grinding force characteristics and its influence on forced vibrations in grinder. Results of simulation supported the thesis, that grinding force significantly influences the forced vibration damping of headstock of grinding wheel.     

GCr15钢平面磨削力仿真分析与实验研究

目的 对不同磨削工艺参数下的平面磨削力进行预测,对磨削机理进行研究,进而控制磨削加工质量。方法 考虑CBN砂轮表面磨粒形状的多样性、姿态的多样性和空间分布的随机性,建立CBN砂轮模型,对GCr15材料模型进行有限元砂轮磨削仿真。同时使用CBN砂轮,采用不同的工件进给速度对GCr15进行单因素平面磨削实验,使用三坐标测力仪测量不同磨削参数下的磨削力。结果 建立的仿真砂轮模型的表面形貌与真实砂轮接近,仿真砂轮上的磨粒出刃高度均服从正态分布,与实际砂轮一致。对比随机多面体磨粒模型和真实CBN磨粒照片,两者形貌相似。磨削力实验和仿真结果表明,工件进给速度由3 m/min增大到18 m/min时,磨削力逐渐增大,仿真所得法向磨削力最大误差远小于切向磨削力。结论 实验结果与仿真结果具有一致性,证明了砂轮磨削有限元仿真模型可用于磨削力预测。因为仿真中无法考虑实际砂轮尺寸和砂轮表面结合剂对磨削的影响,结果具有一定误差,仿真的准确性有待进一步提高。研究结果为使用有限元方法研究磨削机理和控制磨削加工质量提供了思路。     

球头立铣刀端刃间隙磨削轨迹的算法

端刃尖点是球头立铣刀后刀面轮廓超出回转轮廓的部分,会造成切削干涉。为了有效地去除端刃尖点,文章提出一种端刃间隙磨削工艺,并设计了参数化的端刃间隙磨削轨迹算法。该算法以球头刃线中心点处切线方向为基准,在磨削坐标系下定义了砂轮磨削姿态模型和相关工艺参数,并通过矩阵变换得到工件坐标系下的砂轮磨削姿态矢量及运动轨迹坐标。通过仿真和实际加工对计算结果进行验证,证明了算法的正确性及该工艺在去除端刃尖点和减少磨削余量的有效性。     

Simulation of plunge centerless grinding processes

Workpiece out-of-roundness is one of the most important problems in centerless grinding. Besides geometrical and kinematical effects, the dynamical behavior of the machine structure, the grinding and regulating wheel together with the support blade fundamentally influence the process stability and the workpiece accuracy. The paper presents a method for a numerical simulation of plunge centerless grinding processes in time domain. Under consideration of the geometrical conditions of the grinding gap and the dynamical compliance behavior of the grinding system the developed algorithm enables a quantitative determination of the workpiece out-of-roundness, the progression of grinding and reaction forces as well as the calculation of dynamical displacements.     

Limit charts for high removal rate centrelessgrinding

An experimental investigation of the high removal-rate centreless grinding process applied to steel and cast-iron has allowed the investigators to present “limit-charts”. These limit charts illustrate the characteristic diagram for boundaries of operation where the grinding variables are infeed rate, workpiece speed and grinding wheel speed. The boundaries determined in this investigation were formed by burn, chatter, or available power (75 kW). It was not possible to achieve an excessive wheel wear condition although this might have been possible if more power had been available. The shape of the diagram means there is an optimum point of operation within the region enclosed by the boundaries. This forms the basis of a control strategy.Kinematic characterisation of the grinding process is developed by attention to the concept of a ‘speedeffect”, a “size effect” and a “shape effect”. Results for the speed effect are distinguished and presented separately from results for the size effect and shape effect to avoid mixed causes for the differing physical effects.A two-dimensional surface is presented showing the variation of grinding energy with variations in infeedrate, workpiece speed and grinding wheel speed. Because speed, shape and size effects are separated on the surface it is possible to read the optimum grinding wheel speed for minimum energy. For these experimental conditions, the optimum grinding wheel speed was found to be approximately 50 m/s. In the region of the optimum speed, specific energy is relatively insensitive to variations in operating speeds and feeds which is a useful feature when devising an automatic control strategy.     

A new in-feed centerless grinding technique using a surface grinder

This paper deals with the development of an alternative centerless grinding technique, i.e., in-feed centerless grinding based on a surface grinder. In this new method, a compact centerless grinding unit, composed of an ultrasonic elliptic-vibration shoe, a blade and their respective holders, is installed onto the worktable of a surface grinder, and the in-feed centerless grinding operation is performed as a rotating grinding wheel is fed in downward to the cylindrical workpiece held on the shoe and the blade. During grinding, the rotational speed of the workpiece is controlled by the ultrasonic elliptic-vibration of the shoe that is produced by bonding a piezoelectric ceramic device (PZT) on a metal elastic body (stainless steel, SUS304). A simulation method is proposed for clarifying the workpiece rounding process and predicting the workpiece roundness in this new centerless grinding, and the effects of process parameters such as the eccentric angle, the wheel feed rate, the stock removal and the workpiece rotational speed on the workpiece roundness were investigated by simulation followed by experimental confirmation. The obtained results indicate that: (1) the optimum eccentric angle is around 6°; (2) higher machining accuracy can be obtained under a lower grinding wheel feed rate, larger stock removal and faster workpiece rotational speed; (3) the workpiece roundness was improved from an initial value of 19.90 μm to a final one of 0.90 μm after grinding under the optimal grinding conditions.