Constant spindle power grinding method

1. A method of grinding a component which is rotated by a headstock during grinding to finish size, wherein the method comprises linking the headstock velocity to the power capabilities of the grinding wheel spindle motor, and maintaining a significant grinding force between the wheel and the component from the beginning to the end of the grinding process, including during finish grinding to present a substantially constant loading on the spindle motor, which is very close to the maximum constant power rating of the motor, thereby to achieve a predetermined depth of cut even during the finish grinding step, for the purpose of reducing chatter and grind marks on the final finished surface and to achieve a short grind time.

2. A method of grinding a component which is rotated by a headstock during grinding wherein the method comprising controlling the head stock velocity during grinding to achieve a substantially constant power demand on the spindle drives, especially during final finish grinding so as to accelerate and decelerate the rotational speed of the component during grinding while maintaining a significant depth of cut, so as to present a substantially constant loading on the spindle motor, which is very close to the maximum power rating of the motor, for the purpose of achieving substantially even wear around the circumference of the grinding wheel and achieving a short grind time.

3. A method of grinding as claimed in claim 1 wherein the method comprises providing a component that is non-cylindrical and the headstock speed of rotation is altered as the component rotates to achieve a substantially constant load on the spindle drive motor.

4. A method of achieving substantially constant wear around the circumference of a grinding wheel when grinding a component which itself is rotated by a headstock and reducing grind and chatter marks on the component being ground, wherein the method comprises programming a computer to control headstock acceleration and deceleration and headstock velocity during the rotation of the component and to take into account any variation in contact length between the wheel and component during the rotation of the latter, so that although the metal removal rate may vary slightly around the circumference of the component the power demand on the spindle motor is maintained substantially constant during the whole of the grinding of the component.

5. A method of computer-controlled grinding of a component to produce a finish-ground article, comprising performing a first stage in which the wheel grinds the component to remove a relatively large depth of material while the component is rotated by a headstock around its axis, providing computer control of the headstock velocity at all times during each rotation of the component and with adjustment of the headstock velocity to accommodate any variation in contact length in any region around the component so as to maintain a substantially constant power demand on the grinding wheel spindle motor which is equal to or just below the maximum constant power rating of the motor, so that the time for the first stage is reduced to the shortest period in view of the power available, and performing a second stage in which the component is ground to finish size, with the grinding parameters and particularly wheelfeed and headstock velocity being computer controlled so that power demand on the spindle motor is maintained constant at or near the constant power rating of the motor at all points around the component during the second stage, and so that the depth of cut is such as to leave the component ground to size.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the second stage involves a single revolution of the component, and the second stage is not begun until the depth of material left to be removed can be ground off in a single revolution of the component.

7. A method of grinding a component as claimed in claim 1 wherein achieving a substantially constant power demand on the spindle drive by controlling the headstock velocity during grinding, and by accelerating and decelerating the rotational speed of the component during grinding while maintaining a significant depth of cut, so as to present a substantially constant loading on the spindle motor, which is very close to the maximum power rating of the motor, for the purpose of achieving substantially even wear around the circumference of the grinding wheel.

8. The method of grinding a component as claimed in claim 7 wherein the method comprises controlling the headstock acceleration and deceleration and headstock velocity during the rotation of the component to take into account any variation in contact length between the wheel and component during the rotation of the latter, so that although the metal removal rate may vary slightly around the circumference of the component the power demand on the spindle motor is maintained substantially constant during the whole of the grinding of the component.

9. A method of grinding a component as claimed in claim 1 in which the grinding is performed using a small diameter wheel, both for rough grinding and for finish grinding, so as to reduce the length of contact between the grinding wheel and the component, for the purpose of allowing coolant fluid to have good access to the region in which grinding is occurring at all stages of the grinding process, so as to minimize surface damage which can otherwise occur if coolant fluid is obscured from the component.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the grinding is performed using two small wheels mounted on the same machine and one is used to rough grind and the other to finish grind the component, without the need to demount the latter.

11. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the method comprises providing a single wheel capable of rough grinding and finish grinding the component.

12. A method as claimed in claim 9 in which the grinding wheel is a CBN wheel.

13. A method of grinding a component as claimed in claimed 8 to produce a finish-ground article, comprising a first stage in which the wheel grinds the component to remove a relatively large depth of material while the component is rotated by a headstock around its axis, so that the time for the first stage is reduced to the shortest period in view of the power available, and further comprising a second stage in which the component is ground to finish size, with the grinding parameters and particularly wheelfeed and headstock velocity being controlled so that power demand on the spindle motor is maintained constant at or near the constant power rating of the motor at all points around the component during the second stage, and so that the depth of cut of the second stage is such as to leave the component ground to size.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the second stage involves a single revolution of the component, and the second stage is not begun until the depth of material left to be removed can be ground off in a single revolution of the component.