Machine for abrading outside diameters and the method of making same

Abstract

An improved machine and method for grinding outside diameters. A plurality of workpieces are fed via workpiece guides into aligning contact with a rotational abrading wheel and a plurality of corresponding workpiece supports. The workpiece supports are rotatably mounted in a concentrically positioned housing which is driven in counter rotation to the abrading wheel, regulating rotation of the workpiece via engagement between a ring gear and a gear connected to one end of each workpiece support, thereby giving the workpieces a counter-planetary revolution that is concentric to the periphery of the abrading wheel, thereby enabling effective surface grinding speeds which exceed existing speed barriers. The housing is also slidably axially mounted responsive to pressure means to automatically adjust the positions between the workpiece supports and abrading wheel as wear occurs. The housing which provides 360.degree. enclosure of the abrading wheel also provides protection against explosive fragmentation of the abrading wheel, and the multiple workpiece supports allow simultaneous grinding of multiple workpiece on a single abrading wheel.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.