Abstract: A clamping apparatus comprises a chuck member and a collet member that includes, at its rear side, a peripheral shoulder. The top side of this shoulder is provided with a thrust surface adapted to engage radially displaceable clamping balls of the chuck member. The bottom side of the shoulder is provided with four centering grooves that cooperate with four centering cams provided in the chuck member. Upon clamping the collet member to the chuck member, the collet member is positioned in X- and Y-directions as well as regarding the angular orientation around the Z-axis by means of the centering cams of the chuck member engaging the centering grooves of the collet member. The collet member is provided with an annular rear surface adapted to rest on Z-reference surface portions of the chuck member upon clamping the collet member to the chuck member.

Abstract: The clamping apparatus comprises a chuck member and a collet member to be clampingly fixed thereto. The collet member comprises, at its rear side, a peripheral shoulder. The top side of this shoulder is provided with a thrust surface adapted to engage radially displaceable clamping balls of the chuck member. The bottom side of the shoulder is provided with four centering grooves, corresponding in size and location to and cooperating with four centering cams provided in the chuck member. Upon clamping the collet member to the chuck member, the collet member is positioned in X- and Y-directions as well as regarding the angular orientation around the Z-axis by means of the centering cams of the chuck member engaging the centering grooves of the collet member. For defining an exact position of the collet member in Z-direction, the collet member is provided with an annular rear surface adapted to rest on Z-reference surface portions of the chuck member upon clamping the collet member to the chuck member.

Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for carrying out said method for grinding surfaces of workpieces with a grinding wheel, an electrode is provided which is disposed spaced apart from the grinding wheel, so that a gap is formed. An electrolytic cooling lubricant is introduced into the gap. By means of a power source, a current is generated which is conducted through the electrode, the electrolytic lubricant and the grinding wheel. An electrochemical conditioning of the grinding wheel thereby takes place, the wheel being thus sharpened. During the grinding operation, the forces exerted by the grinding wheel on the workpiece to be ground are measured, on the basis of which the electrochemical conditioning of the grinding wheel is controlled by changing the intensity of the said current using a computing and control device. The electrochemical conditioning of the grinding wheel can be carried out before, during and/or after the grinding operation, continuously or in intervals.