Method of reducing thermal distortion in grinding machines

Abstract

The invention provides a method of reducing thermal distortion in grinding machines. Such machines each comprise a machine base (60) and a grinding wheel (50) for grinding components in the machine (10). The method includes the steps of: (a) sensing a first temperature at an upper surface of the base (60) substantially below a position (110) in the machine (10) whereat component grinding using the wheel (50) occurs; (b) sensing a second temperature of an underside surface of the base (60) substantially below the position (110) whereat component grinding occurs; (c) determining a relationship between component size drift and changes in a difference between the first and second temperatures; and thereafter (d) correcting a positional offset applied to the wheel (50) during grinding in accordance with the determined relationship, thereby reducing the component size drift. Preferably, the relationship is substantially a linear function of the form MDS=Kf(ΔT1−ΔT2) although higher-order polynom be applied if required. The invention also relates to grinding machines (10) employing the method of reducing thermal distortion.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.