Grinding machine having the function of measuring distance

A method for measuring a vertical distance between a reference plane of a microscope and an object of the microscope, applicable to a grinding machine for grinding a workpiece, which has been set on a chuck top surface, by moving a rotating grinding wheel in relation to the workpiece, the grinding machine including:

• a microscope configured to be vertically movable;
• and a CCD camera configured to take an image viewed through the microscope;
• the method for measuring the vertical distance comprising:
• processing the image taken by the CCD camera to measure a vertical distance between a reference plane of the microscope and an object of the microscope based on sharpness of the image, which corresponds to how clear the microscope is focused.

A method for producing data for controlling a process using a grinding machine, which is connected to an NC device and for grinding a workpiece, that has been set on a chuck top surface, by moving a rotating grinding wheel in relation to the workpiece, the grinding machine including:

• a microscope configured to be vertically movable;
• and a CCD camera configured to take an image viewed through the microscope;
• the method for producing date for controlling a process comprising:
• processing the image taken by the CCD camera to measure a vertical distance between a reference plane of the microscope and an object of the microscope based on sharpness of the image, which corresponds to how clear the microscope is focused,
• obtaining, from the NC device, coordinates of the reference plane of the microscope positioned at a point at which the vertical distance is being measured,
• determining coordinates of the object of the microscope based on the coordinates of the reference plane of the microscope and the vertical distance that has been measured, and
• sending the coordinates of the object of the microscope to the NC device.