Patent ID: 6881126
Filing Date: 2005-04-19
Classification: B23B,B24B,F16H

Abstract:
1. A method of forming a traction drive rolling element including a traction surface which has microscopic crowned-projections, the method comprising: forming a workpiece into a preform having a central axis and a working surface having an arcuate profile in cross section taken along the central axis; supporting the preform so as to be rotatable about the central axis; allowing a relative movement between the preform and a grooving tool such that the grooving tool is moved along the arcuate profile of the working surface, simultaneously with rotating the preform about the central axis, to thereby form a plurality of microscopic recesses and microscopic projections alternately arranged in a direction perpendicular to the central axis along the arcuate profile; pressing a grindstone on the working surface of the preform, the grindstone having a contact surface area of not more than 25 mm allowing a relative movement between the preform and the grindstone such that the grindstone is moved along the arcuate profile of the working surface simultaneously with rotating the preform about the central axis while keeping pressing the grindstone on the working surface until a height of the microscopic projections becomes not more than 3 μm, to thereby form the traction drive rolling element including the traction surface having the microscopic crowned-projection.