Abstract: A computer controlled grinding machine grinds a cylindrical region and an annular shoulder of a rotatable workpiece. Relative movement is effected between the workpiece and a grinding wheel along a line of action which subtends an angle of approach of less than 90 degrees to the Z axis of rotation of the workpiece. Such an angle of approach enables the wheel to grind the annular shoulder of the workpiece simultaneously with grinding the cylindrical portion.

Abstract: A computer controlled grinding machine grinds a cylindrical region and an annular shoulder of a rotatable workpiece. Relative movement is effected between the workpiece and a grinding wheel along a line of action which subtends an angle of approach of less than 90 degrees to the Z axis of rotation of the workpiece. Such an angle of approach enables the wheel to grind the annular shoulder of the workpiece simultaneously with grinding the cylindrical portion.

Abstract: A computer controlled grinding machine grinds a cylindrical region and an annular shoulder of a rotatable workpiece. Relative movement is effected between the workpiece and a grinding wheel along a line of action which subtends an angle of approach of less than 90 degrees to the Z axis of rotation of the workpiece. Such an angle of approach enables the wheel to grind the annular shoulder of the workpiece simultaneously with grinding the cylindrical portion.

Abstract: A grinding machine is disclosed comprising a main frame, a wheelhead, a worktable (16), a headstock (12) and tailstock (14) carried by the worktable (16). A computer is supplied with data indicative of at least one operational parameter of the grinding proces, and the wheelfeed is under the control of signals generated by the computer. Two small diameter grinding wheels (22, 24) are mounted on two parallel spindels mounted on a support member (32) and are independently driven by two motors (28, 30) mounted at the other ends of the spindles. The support member (32) is pivotally joined to the wheelhead. The headstock (12) includes a workpiece drive (20) for rotating the workpiece during a grinding, and its speed of rotation is also controlled by signals generated by the computer. The length of the spindles positions each of the motors (28, 30) axially clear of the tailstock assembly when the wheels (22, 24) are aligned to engaged regions of a workpiece nearest to the headstock (22).

Abstract: A grinding machine has a wheelhead movable tinder computer control perpendicular to the axis of a composite workpiece, mounted between a headstock and a tailstock, and workrests slidable along front and rear rails. Between the workrests are sandwiched rigid cover-spacers to protect the rails and prevent lateral movement of the workrests. A spring-operated thrust bar may be supported against a fixed dressing wheelhead to clamp the stack of cover-spacers and workrests together, in order to accurately locate and space apart the workrests.

Abstract: A machining location for machining workpieces, comprising: a machine tool; an enclosure for said machine tool that encloses the entire machine tool within a predetermined space; workpiece storage within said predetermined space for storing workpieces at least prior to being worked on by said machine tool and for subjecting such workpieces when so stored to said machining environment to become oriented thereto. The machining location is mounted and supported to be separate from and independent of said machine tool so that vibrations are not transmitted from said enclosure to said machine tool. The machining location further comprises ambient environment controls for effecting control of at least the temperature of the air within said predetermined space.

Abstract: The time to grind a workpiece can be reduced by selecting a grinding wheel whose width is not substantially greater than wheel strength considerations require, and which may therefore be less than the axial length of the region to be ground providing a work rest or work steady to increase the workpiece stiffness if required, and performing a succession of plunge grinding steps so as to grind the whole of the said axial region. Typically the grinding wheel is an electroplated CBN wheel, and the width of the grinding wheel selected is the narrowest permissible given the desired feed rate and motive power available.

Abstract: An apparatus for, and method of, grinding crankpins of a crankshaft wherein the machine is under computer control and the grinding wheel is advanced and retracted under computer control so as to follow the planetary motion of the crankpin as the crankshaft rotates. This maintains grinding contact between the wheel and the crankpin to allow the grinding of the latter. The crankshaft is mounted between centers and is rotated by a drive unit, drive being transmitted to the end of the crankshaft via a connecting device which is torsionally rigid in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the crankshaft but which is readily deformable in other planes to accommodate misalingnment and so as to decouple the crankshaft from the drive other than to transmit pure rotation to the crankshaft.

Abstract: The time to grind a workpiece can be reduced by selecting a grinding wheel whose width is not substantially greater than wheel strength considerations require, and which may therefore be less than the axial length fo the region to be ground providing a work rest or work steady to increase the workpiece stiffness if required, and performing a succession of plunge grinding steps so as to grind the whole of the said axial region. Typically the grinding wheel is an electroplated CBN wheel, and the width of the grinding wheel selected is the narrowest permissible given the desired feed rate and motive power available.

Abstract: A machine tool, comprising: a worktable assembly slidably carried by the machine frame for reciprocal movement along a work axis and which is configured to carry a workpiece. A worktool assembly is slidably carried by said machine frame for reciprocal movement along a worktool axis at a predetermined angle with respect to said work axis and so as to intersect same. A reference straight edge is carried by said worktable assembly and has a reference surface. Reference sensing means is carried by said machine frame for coaction with said reference straight edge reference surface, to measure reference spacing between said reference surface and said reference sensing means and to provide a reference output indictive of said reference spacing. Control means is provided to facilitate movement of said worktool towards and away from said work axis, which is responsive to said reference output to further facilitate worktool movement towards said work axis.

Abstract: A method of supporting a workpiece having journal and eccentric regions, in a grinding machine for grinding the eccentric regions thereof, is described which involves mounting the workpiece in a headstock of the grinding machine, providing a coupling between the workpiece and a rotary drive mechanism for rotating the workpiece about its main axis and fitting around at least one remote journal region of the workpiece a pair of members which form a journal bearing complementary to the said region, and fixing the lower of the two members to the machine, thereby providing support for the workpiece at the said remote position. The method is particularly relevant to the grinding of crankpins of a crankshaft.

Abstract: A method of drive decoupling, and a drive decoupling device, utilized in connecting a driving member to a driven members that is attachable to a workpiece to be rotated about a drive axis, includes a laminated plurality of flexible sheet material, attached to the driving member by at least one off axis connection and to the driven member by at least one other off axis connection circumferentially spaced from the one off axis connection, and which is torsionally rigid in a plane perpendicular to the drive axis so as to accommodate any eccentricity developed through misalignment of the driving member and driven member. The coupling device is centrally apertured so that a headstock can extend therethrough. A pair of drive decoupling devices are also provided in series by connecting the driven member of one to the driving member of another.

Abstract: A machine tool comprising a bed, a worktable movable relative to the bed along a linear path and a tool movable to engage a workpiece on the worktable wherein drive means for effecting the movement of the worktable relative to the bed and therefore to the tool comprises a friction drive so as to provide a smooth carriage motion to the worktable. The worktable may be slidable along a slideway which defines the linear path for the worktable and the drive means therefor comprises an elongate member forming a track mounted parallel to the slideway. Wheel means frictionally engages the track and is carried by drive means therefor mounted on the worktable so that the axis of rotaion of the wheel means is fixed in relation to the worktable.

Abstract: A CNC cylindrical grinding machine comprising a bed, a worktable movable relative to the bed along a linear path, wheelhead movable in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of worktable travel, a rotatable grinding wheel mounted thereon for engagement with a workpiece mounted on the worktable, wheel drive means on the wheelhead for rotating the grinding wheel, headstock and tailstock means carried by the worktable for supporting a workpiece at its opposite ends, drive means associated with the headstock and tailstock means for rotating the workpiece, worktable drive means for effecting movement of the worktable relative to the bed and therefore the wheelhead, wheelhead drive means for effecting movement of the wheelhead and therefore the grinding wheel towards and away from the workpiece, control means by which all of the drive means and particularly the worktable and wheelhead drive means, are controlled, thereby to enable the workpiece to be positioned axially and rotationally relative to the

Abstract: A gauge for determining the diameter of an eccentric cylindrical workpiece part during grinding. The measurement is effected by a pair of fingers adapted to engage diametrically opposite regions of the part. The fingers are carried at the ends of a pair of elongate probes mounted on the grinding wheel table so as to move therewith, thereby to follow the eccentric movement of the said part in a horizontal plane, as the workpiece rotates. The probes are slidable in a generally vertical sense relative to the grinding wheel table and relative to each other. The two probes are also slidable as a unitary assembly relative to the table, in a direction towards the workpiece, with the two fingers positioned above and below the upper and lower extremities of the eccentric movement of the workpiece part, to allow subsequent gauging thereof by closure of the two fingers onto the part to make contact therewith.