Patent ID: 6979247
Filing Date: 2005-12-27
Classification: B24B

Abstract:
1. A method of grinding a cam having a re-entrant surface on a workpiece through a cam profile generating motion which is performed under a simultaneous two-axis control involving the rotation of the workpiece about a C-axis within an X–Z plane and the movement of a wheel head relative to a workpiece support device in an X-axis direction in a grinding machine wherein the workpiece support device for supporting the workpiece and the wheel head carrying a grinding wheel are mounted on a bed to be movable relatively in Z and X-axis directions perpendicular to each other and wherein a wheel spindle having the grinding wheel attached thereto is carried on the wheel head to be inclined relative to the X-axis within the X–Z plane, the method comprising the steps of: composing the grinding wheel of a taper section having a generating line parallel to the Z-axis and being larger in diameter on a wheel head side and a spherical section connecting with the generating line at the maximum diameter portion of the taper section; performing a plunge grinding on the cam with the grinding wheel by causing the wheel head to perform, with the cam profile generating motion, a plunge grinding feed relatively toward the workpiece support device in the X-axis direction; and performing a traverse grinding on the cam after the plunge grinding by causing the wheel head to perform, with the cam profile generating motion, a traverse grinding feed relative to the workpiece support device in the Z-axis direction.