Method and apparatus for grinding round parts
OwnerJames E. Pruittinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rotating fixture includes work piece holders for carrying work pieces in a circular path for parading the work pieces one-by-one for machining engagement with a grinding wheel. The work pieces holders permit rotation or spinning of the work piece therein independently of the fixture rotation. A drive wheel engages and spins each work pieces in the holder as the work piece travels through machining engagement with the grinding wheel such that a round, outside-diameter surface is ground onto the work piece.
Claims15
A machine for machining an outside diameter portion of a work piece, said machine comprising:
- a fixture;
- means for rotating the fixture about a first axis;
- a plurality of work piece holders connected to said fixture for rotation therewith, each holder being adapted to slidably receive a work piece;
- a cutting tool positioned for machining engagement with said outside diameter portions of associated work pieces as said work pieces rotate with the fixture;
- means for spinning the work pieces in the holders independently of the fixture during said machining engagement;
- and
- means for clamping the spinning work pieces in the holders during said machining engagement and for releasing the spinning work pieces after said machining engagement.
A method for machining an outside diameter surface onto a work piece with a cutting tool, said method comprising the steps of:
- rotating the work piece through a circular arc that passes proximate the cutting tool to establish machining engagement therebetween;
- clamping the work piece in fixed relation to said arc during said machining engagement;
- spinning the clamped work piece;
- and
- machining the outside diameter surface onto the spinning work piece.
A machine for machining a work piece having first and second outside diameter portions, said machine comprising:
- a fixture;
- means for rotating the fixture about a first axis;
- a plurality of work piece holders connected to said fixture for rotation therewith, each holder being adapted to slidably receive a work piece and having means for engaging said first outside diameter portion of the work piece for retention of the work piece in the rotating holder;
- a cutting tool positioned for machining engagement with said second outside diameter portions of associated work pieces as said work pieces rotate with the fixture;
- and
- means for spinning the work pieces in the holders independently of the fixture during said machining engagement.
A machine for machining an outside diameter portion of a work piece, said machine comprising:
- a fixture;
- means for rotating the fixture about a first axis;
- a plurality of work piece holders connected to said fixture for rotation therewith, each holder being adapted to slidably receive a work piece;
- a cutting tool positioned for machining engagement with said outside diameter portions of associated work pieces as said work pieces rotate with the fixture;
- means for spinning the work pieces in the holders independently of the fixture during said machining engagement;
- and
- means for biasing the spinning work pieces into a first position during said machining engagement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.