Method and apparatus for grinding ball grooves

Abstract

In a method of grinding ball grooves formed in a workpiece with a grind stone, the grind stone is fed in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the ball groove in a condition in which an axis of rotation of the grind stone is inclined in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the ball groove relative to a plane which perpendicularly crosses the longitudinal axis of the ball groove. An apparatus for grinding the ball groove has an apparatus bed which is movable in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the ball groove relative to a work holder for holding a workpiece, a supporting bed which is provided on the apparatus bed, a grind stone holder which rotatably mounts on a front end thereof a grind stone for grinding the ball groove, and an electric motor and a gear mechanism for rotating the grind stone. The grind stone holder, the electric motor and the gear mechanism are mounted on the supporting bed. The supporting bed is supported on the apparatus bed so as to be adjustable in inclination about an axis of inclination which is perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the grind stone and which passes through the center of the grind stone.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.