Adaptive grinding control

• US 4,193,227 A
• Filed: 06/21/1978
• Issued: 03/18/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cincinnati Milacron-Heald Corp.
• Original Assignee: Cincinnati Milacron-Heald Corp.
• Inventors: Uhtenwoldt, Herbert R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Whitehead, Harold D.
• Application Number:
  US05/917,415
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• Field of Search: 51/34 D, 51/35, 51/165.77, 51/165.91, 51/165.92, 51/165.93, 51/291
• US Class Current: 451/5
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 15/12 Adaptive control, i.e. adjusting itself to have a performance which is optimum according to a preassigned criterion
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 49/16 taking regard of the load

Abstract

A method and apparatus for controlling the infeed of a grinding machine senses the interface force between a grinding wheel and a workpiece to control infeed for grinding a workpiece with diverse grindability characteristics. The infeed is increased in response to an increase in the sensed force until the interface force reaches a predetermined level; while the interface force is decreased to a predetermined level in response to a decrease in the sensed force.

Claims

1. A method of grinding a workpiece with diverse grindability characteristics, comprising:

(a) interfacing a grinding wheel with a workpiece;

(b) sensing the interface force between the wheel and the workpiece;

(c) generating a signal whose magnitude varies as a function of the sensed force;

(d) utilizing the generated signal to increase the interface force to a predetermined level in response to an increase in sensed force; and

(e) utilizing the generated signal to decrease the interface force to a predetermined level in response to a decrease in sensed force.

2. A grinding machine for grinding workpieces with diverse grindability characteristics, comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) a grinding wheel rotably mounted upon said base;

(c) a workpiece support for supporting a workpiece with diverse grindability characteristics;

(d) means for effectuating relative infeed movement between said grinding wheel and said workpiece support;

(e) means for generating a signal whose magnitude varies as a function of the interface force between said grinding wheel and a workpiece supported in said workpiece support;

(f) first means utilizing said generated signal for increasing the infeed in response to an increase in said sensed force, said first means increasing the infeed until the interface force reaches a predetermined level; and

(g) second means utilizing said generated signal for decreasing the infeed in response to a decrease in said sensed force, said means decreasing the infeed until the interface force reaches a predetermined level.

3. A grinding machine as recited in claim 2 wherein said signal generating means includes a transducer responsive to electrical energy used by an electrical spindle motor utilized to rotably power said grinding wheel.