ELID centerless grinding apparatus

Abstract

An ELID centerless grinding apparatus comprising: a blade 2 for horizontally supporting a rotator workpiece 1 and and a regulating wheel 10 driven to rotate around a horizontal shaft center. An outer surface of the workpiece is subjected to ELID grinding by using a conductive grinding wheel 4. An outer peripheral portion of the wheel 10 includes a conductive elastic member 11 and abrasion resisting particles 12. An electrolytic electrode 14 is provided in close vicinity to an outer peripheral surface of the wheel 10. An electrolytic power supply 16 applies an electrolytic voltage between the electrolytic electrode and the wheel. A conductive electrolytic fluid is flow between the electrode and the wheel and the member 11 is removed by the electrolytic dressing to cause the abrasion resisting particles 12 to project, while the particles 12 are brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the workpiece 1 to rotate around its shaft center. Consequently, the coefficient of friction of the outer peripheral surface shape of the regulating wheel 3 with respect to the workpiece can be maintained more or less constant during the grinding process of the workpiece.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.