Apparatus and method for grinding workpiece

A method for grinding a workpiece, comprising:

• rotating a cylindrical grinding wheel about a rotational axis being parallel to the rotational axis of the workpiece;
• moving the grinding wheel relative to the workpiece at least in one of a first direction being perpendicular to the rotational axis of the workpiece for grinding the workpiece at a cylindrical surface of the grinding wheel and a second direction being parallel to the rotational axis of the workpiece for grinding the workpiece at an end surface of the grinding wheel being perpendicular to the rotational axis of the grinding wheel;
• superimposing a vibration signal, including a plurality of frequency components, onto a driving signal outputted to a grinding wheel rotating means for rotating the grinding wheel;
• and
• rotating the workpiece about a rotational axis, while changing a circumferential speed of the workpiece at random intervals, on the basis of the driving signal superimposed onto the vibration signal.

An apparatus for grinding a workpiece, comprising:

• a workpiece rotating means for rotating the workpiece about a rotational axis;
• a grinding wheel rotating means for rotating a cylindrical grinding wheel about a rotational axis being parallel to the rotational axis of the workpiece;
• a grinding means including at least one of a first grinding means for moving the grinding wheel relative to the workpiece in a first direction being perpendicular to the rotational axis of the workpiece for grinding the workpiece at a cylindrical surface of the grinding wheel and a second grinding means for moving the grinding wheel relative to the workpiece in a second direction being parallel to the rotational axis of the workpiece for grinding the workpiece at an end surface of the grinding wheel being perpendicular to the rotational axis of the grinding wheel;
• and
• a controlling means for outputting a driving signal to each of the workpiece rotating means, the grinding wheel rotating means and the grinding means,
• wherein the controlling means superimposes a vibration signal including a plurality of frequency components, onto the driving signal outputted to the workpiece rotating means,
• and the workpiece rotating means rotates the workpiece, while changing a circumferential speed of the workpiece at random intervals, on the basis of the driving signal superimposed onto the vibration signal and outputted from the controlling means.

An apparatus for grinding a workpiece, comprising:

• a workpiece rotating means for rotating the workpiece about a rotational axis;
• a grinding wheel rotating means for rotating a cylindrical grinding wheel about a rotational axis being parallel to the rotational axis of the workpiece;
• a grinding means including at least one of a first grinding means for moving the grinding wheel relative to the workpiece in a first direction being perpendicular to the rotational axis of the workpiece for grinding the workpiece at a cylindrical surface of the grinding wheel and a second grinding means for moving the grinding wheel relative to the workpiece in a second direction being parallel to the rotational axis of the workpiece for grinding the workpiece at an end surface of the grinding wheel being perpendicular to the rotational axis of the grinding wheel;
• and
• a controlling means for outputting a driving signal to each of the workpiece rotating means, the grinding wheel rotating means, and the grinding means,
• wherein the controlling means superimposes a vibration signal, including a plurality of frequency components, onto the driving signal outputted to the grinding wheel rotating means,
• and the grinding wheel rotating means rotates the grinding wheel, while changing a circumferential speed of the grinding wheel at random intervals, on the basis of the driving signal superimposed onto the vibration signal and outputted from the controlling means.