Centerless grinding machine with optimal regulating wheel truing and dressing

A centerless grinding machine for grinding a workpiece, having a center axis, to a precise workpiece radius of curvature, comprising:

• a grinding wheel mounted for rotation about a rotational axis and positioned for grinding the workpiece;
• a regulating wheel positioned a spaced distance from said grinding wheel to form a channel between said grinding wheel and said regulating wheel for receiving the workpiece, said regulating wheel including an outer surface forming a first side facing said grinding wheel and a second side;
• a workpiece support means for supporting the workpiece during movement through said channel;
• a truing wheel positioned adjacent said second side of said regulating wheel for contacting and shaping said outer surface of said regulating wheel, said truing wheel including an outer surface having a truing wheel radius of curvature, said truing wheel radius of curvature and the workpiece radius of curvature being equal.

A method of truing and dressing a regulating wheel of a centerless grinding machine for grinding a workpiece, having a rotational centerpoint, to a precise workpiece radius of curvature, comprising the steps of:

• providing a grinding wheel mounted for rotation about a grinding wheel rotational axis,
• positioning a first side of the regulating wheel adjacent a workpiece holder for supporting the workpiece, the regulating wheel mounted for rotation about a rotational axis;
• providing a rotatable truing wheel including a truing rotational centerpoint and an outer surface having a truing wheel radius of curvature equal to the workpiece radius of curvature;
• positioning said rotatable truing wheel adjacent a second side of the regulating wheel opposite said first side;
• adjusting the position of at least one of said workpiece holder and said rotatable truing wheel to position said truing rotational centerpoint and the workpiece rotational centerpoint an equal distance from a reference plane extending through and positioned along said grinding wheel rotational axis;
• and
• moving said truing wheel axially along the regulating wheel while rotating both said truing wheel and the regulating wheel.