Design, construction and testing of a centreless grinding attachment

Abstract

The centreless grinding attachment constructed is an extremely versatile and useful piece of precision grinding equipment to be used in the production of many different types of round components, made from a variety of both hardened and softer materials. The attachment can be used in conjunction with standard toolroom surface grinding machines and can be mounted directly onto the table of the machine by first removing the magnetic chuck surface. This method produces a rigid mounting and allows more headroom between the machine wheelhead and the centerless grin ding attachment so as to allow larger diameter parts to be ground. This method of producing round components is very cost effective, because it can, not only in many instances, do away with the need for a full cylindrical grinding machine, but also much of the preparation work involved in making parts ready to go onto conventional cylindrical grinding machines, such as straightening and putting in centres. Within reason bowed components can be brought true and multidiameter parts can be effectively produced. Form ground parts are also very easily attained, probably more simply than attempting the same results using normal cylindrical grinding methods.