Patent ID: 6893324

Claim:
A grinding machine for grinding a rotating workpiece, the grinding machine having an X-axis and a Z-axis, in which the Z-axis is the axis of rotation of the workpiece and the X-axis is perpendicular thereto, the grinding machine comprising: a machine wheelhead mounted for movement parallel to the X and Z-axes of the grinding machine; a grinding wheel mounted on the machine wheelhead and mounted for rotation about an axis which remains parallel to the Z axis; a cylindrical surface on the grinding wheel that is parallel to the axis of rotation of the grinding wheel and a circular face on the grinding wheel that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the grinding wheel; X and Z-axis drives for moving the wheelhead relative to the workpiece parallel to the X and Z axes respectively; and, control signals for advancing the wheelhead and the grinding wheel along the X and Z-axes and for causing the wheelhead to advance toward and into engagement with the workpiece along a line of action which subtends an angle of less than 90° to the Z-axis, the line of action being such as to simultaneously plunge grind a radial annular shoulder at an end of the workpiece and to grind a cylindrical surface adjoining the shoulder on the workpiece during a single advance of the grinding wheel towards the workpiece.