Method for forming grooves on workpiece and for dressing a grindstone used in the groove formation

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6783428
  • Patent Number
    6,783,428
  • Date Filed
    Friday, March 28, 2003
    21 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, August 31, 2004
    20 years ago
Abstract
A grinding apparatus for grinding a spline ball groove on a workpiece comprises a rod-shaped grindstone, having a distal end portion with a curved surface corresponding to the groove to be ground, and a spindle mechanism for rotating the grindstone. The spindle mechanism and the grindstone are supported by means of a supporter in a manner such that they are inclined at a given angle to an axis of the workpiece. A rotary dresser, which has a dress groove corresponding to the curved surface of the distal end portion of the grindstone, is disposed near the grinding apparatus. The grindstone can be reciprocated along the axis of the workpiece by a drive mechanism between the workpiece and the dresser without changing its angle of inclination.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates to a grinding apparatus provided with a grindstone for working, for example, spline ball grooves on the inner surface of a workpiece and a dressing method for dressing the grindstone.




There are known grinding apparatuses that use a grindstone to form spline ball grooves on the inner surface of a workpiece. One such conventional grinding apparatus comprises a spindle mechanism, which is rotated by means of a motor, and a substantially disc-shaped grindstone rotatable by means of the spindle mechanism. As the grindstone rotates and moves in the axial direction of the workpiece, its outer peripheral portion grinds the inner surface of the workpiece. The grindstone is rotatably supported by means of a bearing of the spindle mechanism. A pulley is coupled to the grindstone. Another pulley is coupled to the rotating shaft of the motor that is situated at a distance from the grindstone. An endless belt for power transmission is passed around and between the two pulleys.




The rotation of the motor is transmitted to the grindstone by means of the pulleys and the belt. The axis of the spindle mechanism extends parallel to that of the workpiece. The spline ball grooves are ground as the grindstone rotates and moves parallel to the axis of the workpiece so that its outer peripheral portion touches the inner surface of the workpiece. This conventional grinding apparatus cannot use a bearing that has a diameter larger than that of the disc-shaped grindstone. Accordingly, the bearing cannot enjoy good stiffness to resist grinding force.




Thus, according to the conventional grinding apparatus described above, it is hard to augment grinding forces in the tangential and normal directions of the circular grindstone that are needed to grind the workpiece. In some cases, therefore, the grinding efficiency is low, and the surface accuracy of the spline ball grooves is not high enough. Since the bearing has a small diameter, moreover, it is subjected to too heavy a load of grinding to enjoy a long life. Since the belt is small-sized, furthermore, its tension or durability may be unsatisfactory.




As shown in

FIG. 13

, some conventional grinding apparatuses may use a single-point dresser


101


for dressing a grindstone


100


. According to a dressing method using this dresser


101


, however, it is ground at an angle θ′ to a center


100




c


of the grindstone


100


(so-called interference grinding), so that a distal end face


102


of the grindstone


100


cannot easily have a given curvature radius and is subject to undulation. Further, it is hard for the dresser


101


accurately to dress and shape a grindstone for grinding a groove in the form of a Gothic arch.





FIG. 14

shows shape errors of a Gothic-arched groove ground with use of the grindstone


100


that is dressed by means of the conventional dresser


101


. A target value of a curvature radius R of the groove for a contact angle θ of 45° is 3 mm. In this case, the target value can be substantially secured for positions near 45° (θ=40° to 50°). At its bottom or shoulder portions, however, the groove is subject to considerable shape errors, as indicated by a segment


103


.




In the case where a formed dresser is used for dressing, on the other hand, the grindstone may possibly fail to come into entire contact with the dresser, owing to thermal deformation of the spindle mechanism for the grindstone or a dresser rotating mechanism. Conventionally, this problem is solved by a known technique that is described in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 3-19770, for example. This technique is a method in which the axial displacement of a grindstone is detected by means of a noncontact sensor, and dressing is carried out after dislocation corresponding to the displacement is corrected. Although this conventional technique can be effectively applied to a small-diameter grindstone for inner surface grinding, it cannot be used to dress a large-diameter grindstone for outer surface grinding or a pencil-type grindstone.




In Jpn. UM Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 61-169564, there is described an apparatus for transmitting ultrasonic vibration, which is generated as a rotary dresser and a grindstone come into contact with each other, to an acoustic emission sensor through the medium of a liquid, in order to detect contact between the dresser and the grindstone. In this conventional apparatus, however, the liquid for use as the ultrasonic propagation medium cannot be controlled with ease. Described in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 6-8138, moreover, is an apparatus in which contact between a grindstone and a rotary dresser is detected by means of a sensor with the aid of a ball that is attached to the dresser. In this conventional apparatus, however, the ball generates noise of a relatively high level as it touches a detection plate. In the case where processing requires use of infinitesimal contact signals, the signal-to-noise ratio is limited and unpractical.




BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is to provide a grinding apparatus capable of grinding grooves on a workpiece with improved efficiency. A second object of the invention is to provide a grinding apparatus capable of enhancing the accuracy of a grindstone to improve the accuracy of work on grooves. A third object of the invention is to provide a dressing method in which the whole surface of a grindstone can be brought securely into contact with a dresser, so that the dressing accuracy is improved to lengthen the life of the grindstone and enhance the dressing efficiency.




In order to achieve the first object described above, a grinding apparatus according to the present invention comprises a rod-shaped grindstone having a distal end portion with a curved surface corresponding to the cross-section of a groove of a workpiece to be ground, a spindle mechanism for rotating the grindstone, supporting means for supporting the grindstone in a manner such that the grindstone is inclined at a given angle to the axis of the workpiece fixed in a predetermined position, and a drive mechanism for bringing the distal end portion of the grindstone into contact with the workpiece and relatively moving the grindstone along the axis of the workpiece without changing the aforesaid angle to the workpiece.




According to this invention, the grindstone has increased stiffness to resist grinding force as it forms a spline ball groove on the inner surface of the workpiece, so that the grinding efficiency and worked groove accuracy are improved. In this invention, the grindstone includes a rod-shaped metallic support member, an inner grindstone layer portion attached to the outer periphery of the support member, and an outer grindstone layer portion fixed to the inner grindstone layer portion so as to cover the outer peripheral surface thereof and having a distal end portion with a curved surface corresponding to the cross section of the spline ball groove of the workpiece. According to this invention, the grindstone and components of its drive system are improved in durability.




In order to achieve the second object, a grinding apparatus according to the invention comprises a rod-shaped grindstone having a distal end portion with a curved surface corresponding to the cross section of a groove of a workpiece to be ground, a spindle mechanism for rotating the grindstone, supporting means for supporting the grindstone in a manner such that the grindstone is inclined at a given angle to the axis of the workpiece fixed in a predetermined position, a dressing apparatus including a rotary dresser having a dress groove with a cross section corresponding to the distal end portion of the grindstone, and a drive mechanism for relatively moving the grindstone along the axis of the workpiece without changing the aforesaid angle, thereby reciprocating the distal end portion of the grindstone between the dress groove and the workpiece.




According to this invention, the rod-shaped grindstone reciprocates between the worked groove of the workpiece and the dress groove, whereby the distal end portion of the grindstone can be shaped every time the groove is worked. In this grinding apparatus, the shape of the groove of the formed dresser is given to the grindstone as the grindstone is dressed, so that the distal end portion of the grindstone can be shaped so as to enjoy an accurate curvature radius. Accordingly, the grindstone can work the groove of the workpiece with high accuracy without rendering the inner surface of the groove undulatory. Thus, the grinding apparatus can accurately work a groove having the shape of a Gothic arch, not to mention a groove with a single curvature radius.




A dressing apparatus according to this invention should comprise a movable supporter, a moving mechanism for moving the supporter, a rotating mechanism mounted on the supporter, a rotary dresser rotatable by means of the rotating mechanism, an AE sensor attached to the rotary dresser and adapted to detect vibration generated when the dresser is brought into contact with the grindstone and to deliver an output based on the vibration, a receiver attached to the supporter in a manner such that the receiver is opposed to the AE sensor across an air gap and capable of receiving the output of the AE sensor, and a controller adapted to deliver a command to stop the movement of the supporter in response to a signal received by the receiver.




According to this invention, the contact between the rod-shaped grindstone and the dresser can be highly accurately detected as the grindstone is dressed.




In order to achieve the third object, a dressing method according to the invention comprises a first positioning process for relatively moving a grindstone in a first direction along the axis of a rotary dresser from a position in which the grindstone faces an inner surface of a dress groove, detecting a first contact position reached the moment the grindstone touches one side edge of the dress groove, and stopping the movement, a second positioning process for relatively moving the grindstone in a second direction along the aforesaid axis, detecting a second contact position reached the moment the grindstone touches the other side edge of the dress groove, and stopping the movement, the second positioning process directly following the first positioning process, a third positioning process for moving the grindstone to an intermediate position between the first and second contact positions, and a dressing process for moving the grindstone toward the inner surface of the dress groove in a direction perpendicular to the axis, thereby bringing a distal end portion of the grindstone into contact with the inner surface of the dress groove, the dressing process directly following the third positioning process.




According to this invention, the whole surface of the grindstone can be brought into contact with the formed dresser in one cycle of the dressing process without being influenced by thermal deformation of a spindle mechanism for the grindstone or a dresser rotating mechanism. According to this dressing method, the dressing accuracy is improved, so that the grindstone can be shaped with a minor bite of dressing. Since the grindstone can be kept from partial dressing, moreover, its life is prolonged, the grinding efficiency is improved, and the groove can be worked with high accuracy.




Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING




The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.





FIG. 1

is a side view of a grinding apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 2

is a side view showing a part of the grinding apparatus of

FIG. 1 and a

grinding machine for chamfering;





FIG. 3

is a sectional view of a grindstone used in the grinding apparatus of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 4A

is a sectional view of a groove worked by means of the grinding apparatus of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 4B

is a sectional view of the groove worked by means of the grinding machine for chamfering shown in

FIG. 2

;





FIG. 5

is a side view showing a part of the grinding apparatus of

FIG. 1 and a

part of a dressing apparatus;





FIG. 6

is a front view, partially in section, showing the dressing apparatus of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 7A

is a front view partially showing the dressing apparatus in a state such that a dresser shown in

FIG. 1

is moved in a first direction;





FIG. 7B

is a front view partially showing the dressing apparatus in a state such that the dresser shown in

FIG. 1

is moved in a second direction;





FIG. 7C

is a front view partially showing the dressing apparatus in a state such that the dresser shown in

FIG. 1

is in contact with the grindstone;





FIG. 8

is a front view, partially in section, showing a part of a grinding apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention and a dressing apparatus;





FIG. 9A

is a front view partially showing the dressing apparatus in a state such that a dresser shown in

FIG. 8

is moved in the first direction;





FIG. 9B

is a front view partially showing the dressing apparatus in a state such that the dresser shown in

FIG. 8

is moved in the second direction;





FIG. 9C

is a front view partially showing the dressing apparatus in a state such that the dresser shown in

FIG. 8

is in contact with the grindstone;





FIG. 10

is a front view of a dressing apparatus according to a third embodiment of the invention;





FIG. 11A

is a front view partially showing the dressing apparatus in a state such that a dresser shown in

FIG. 10

is moved in the first direction;





FIG. 11B

is a front view partially showing the dressing apparatus in a state such that the dresser shown in

FIG. 10

is moved in the second direction;





FIG. 11C

is a front view partially showing the dressing apparatus in a state such that the dresser shown in

FIG. 10

is in contact with the grindstone;





FIG. 12

is a diagram showing flows of a grindstone for position loop gains of 30 sec


−1


and 70 sec


−1


, in the dressing apparatus shown in

FIG. 10

;





FIG. 13

is affront view showing a part of a conventional dressing apparatus; and





FIG. 14

is a diagram showing undulation of a groove worked by means of the conventional apparatus shown in FIG.


13


.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




A first embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings of

FIGS. 1

to


7


C. Referring first to

FIG. 1

, there are shown a grinding apparatus K, which includes a grindstone


4


, and a dressing apparatus D, which includes a rotary dresser


7


. The grindstone


4


of the grinding apparatus K is used to form spline ball grooves b


1


along an axis Lb of a workpiece W on the inner peripheral surface of the workpiece W. The cross section of a bottom b


2


of each spline ball groove b


1


has the shape of a Gothic arch, as shown in

FIG. 4A

, or a semicircle with a given curvature radius, for example. The workpiece W is placed in a predetermined position on a turntable T and fixed by means of a chuck mechanism T


1


. Every time the grindstone


4


of the grinding apparatus K grinds one groove b


1


, the turntable T is rotated for a given angle to reach the position for the next groove to be worked. In

FIG. 1

, the axis Lb of the workpiece W extends in the vertical direction. When the workpiece W is used after it is completed, balls (not shown) are held in the spline ball grooves b


1


for rolling motion.




The grinding apparatus K is provided with a spindle mechanism


1


that contains a motor therein. A first grindstone holder


2


is mounted on the output shaft of the spindle mechanism


1


. A second grindstone holder


3


is coupled to the first grindstone holder


2


. The rod-shaped grindstone


4


is attached to the distal end of the second grindstone holder


3


.




The spindle mechanism


1


, grindstone holders


2


and


3


, and grindstone


4


are situated on a common axis La. The spindle mechanism


1


is supported by means of a supporter


1




a


in a manner such that its axis La is inclined at a given angle β to the axis Lb of the workpiece W. The supporter


1




a


can be moved up and down by means of the drive mechanism


1




c


along a guide


1




b


that extends over the turntables. Thus, the spindle mechanism


1


and the grindstone


4


can move for a distance ZL between a top dead center Oa and a bottom dead center Ob shown in

FIG. 1

along the axis Lb of the workpiece W.




When the spindle mechanism


1


reaches the top dead center Oa, a distal end portion


4




e


of the grindstone


4


is situated in a predetermined dress position P


1


on the dressing apparatus D. When the spindle mechanism


1


is moved to the bottom dead center Ob, the distal end portion


4




e


of the grindstone


4


is situated in a grinding end position B in one of the grooves b


1


. A grinding start position A in the groove b


1


is situated between the dress position P


1


and the grinding end position B. A grinding stroke GL of the grindstone


4


is equal to the distance from the grinding start position A to the grinding end position B.




The second grindstone holder


3


, which is fitted with the grindstone


4


, and the first grindstone holder


2


coupled to the holder


3


are inserted toward the grinding end position B in the workpiece W in a manner such that they are kept inclined at the given angle β to the axis Lb of the workpiece W. The angle β is adjusted to a value such that the grindstone holders


2


and


3


are not in contact with the inner surface of the workpiece W when the grindstone


4


is inserted into the workpiece W.





FIG. 3

shows a grindstone assembly J. The grindstone assembly J includes the second grindstone holder


3


, which is formed of a metal rod, and the grindstone


4


fixed to the holder


3


. The grindstone holder


3


functions as a support member for supporting the grindstone


4


. An external thread portion


3




a


is provided on one end of the second grindstone holder


3


. The external thread portion


3




a


can be screwed into an internal thread portion (not shown) of the first grindstone holder


2


. The grindstone holder


3


has a taper portion


3




b


of which the outside diameter is reduced toward the grindstone


4


. The distal end of holder


3


is formed having a straight portion


3




c


that has a diameter smaller than that of a distal end portion


3




e


of the taper portion


3




b


. A knurled rough surface


3




d


is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the straight portion


3




c.






The grindstone


4


is composed of an inner grindstone layer portion


4




a


and an outer grindstone layer portion


4




b


that have different properties. A collar portion


4




c


is formed on the proximal end of the cylindrical inner grindstone layer portion


4




a


. The outside diameter of the collar portion


4




c


is substantially equal to that of the distal end portion


3




e


of the taper portion


3




b


. The inside diameter of the cylindrical outer grindstone layer portion


4




b


is substantially equal to the outside diameter of the inner grindstone layer portion


4




a


. The outer diameter of the outer layer portion


4




b


is equal to the outside diameter of the collar portion


4




c


of the inner layer portion


4




a


. The inner grindstone layer portion


4




a


is fitted onto the straight portion


3




c


so that the collar portion


4




c


abuts against the distal end portion


3




e


of the taper portion


3




b


. The inner grindstone layer portion


4




a


is fixed to the straight portion


3




c


and the distal end portion


3




e


with an adhesive agent. The rough surface


3




d


of the straight portion


3




c


serves to enhance the fixing strength of the inner grindstone layer portion


4




a


on the straight portion


3




c


. The inner and outer grindstone layer portions


4




a


and


4




b


, united in this manner, constitute the grindstone


4


in the form of a round rod.




Each of the respective distal end portions


4




e


of the inner and outer grindstone layer portions


4




a


and


4




b


has a curved surface with a given curvature radius. Since the grindstone


4


is attached to grinding apparatus K at the aforesaid angle β, the spline ball grooves b


1


can be ground on the inner peripheral surface of the workpiece W by means of the distal end portion


4




e


of the grindstone


4


.




As shown in

FIGS. 5 and 6

, the dressing apparatus D comprises a rotating mechanism


5


having a motor therein, a tapered body


6


attached to an output shaft


5




a


of the mechanism


5


, a rotary dresser


7


fitted on the tapered body


6


, etc. The rotary dresser


7


is fixed to the tapered body


6


by means of a collar


8


and a bolt


9


.




A ball


10


is attached to the distal end of the bolt


9


. An acoustic emission sensor (hereinafter referred to as AE sensor)


11


is disposed beside the ball


10


. The AE sensor


11


is provided with a plate spring


12


, which serves as a contact member for propagating vibration. The spring


12


is in contact with the distal end of the ball


10


. The sensor


11


is attached to the bracket


13


. The bracket


13


is mounted on a table


14


that is movable together with the rotating mechanism


5


. The AE sensor


11


is connected electrically to a controller


17


.




A dress groove


15


having an arcuate cross section is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotary dresser


7


so as to be continuous in the circumferential direction thereof. The grindstone


4


is dressed as its distal end portion


4




e


is held against an inner surface


15




a


of the dress groove


15


in the manner mentioned later. During dressing operation, the axis La of the grindstone


4


is also inclined at the angle β to the tangential direction of the rotary dresser


7


(direction of the axis Lb of the workpiece W), as shown in FIG.


5


.




The following is a description of processes for forming the spline ball grooves b


1


on the workpiece W by means of the grinding apparatus K.




As shown in

FIG. 1

, the axis La of the spindle mechanism


1


and the grindstone


4


are inclined at the angle β to the axis Lb of the workpiece W. The mechanism


1


and the grindstone


4


are vertically moved along a segment Lb′ parallel to the axis Lb of the workpiece W by means of the drive mechanism


1




c


. The position of the grindstone


4


relative to the rotary dresser


7


is previously adjusted so that the grindstone


4


can start movement at the dress position P


1


.




When the grindstone


4


, having started to move down from the dress position P


1


, reaches the grinding start position A, its distal end portion


4




e


abuts against the inner surface of the workpiece W. Grinding the spline ball grooves b


1


is started at the grinding start position A. The grooves b


1


are ground as the grindstone


4


, kept inclined at the angle β, is moved along the axis Lb of the workpiece W to the grinding end position B. These are main grinding processes.




After the grindstone


4


reaches the grinding end position B, the spindle mechanism


1


is raised to the dress position P


1


by means of the drive mechanism


1




c


. While this is done, the grindstone


4


is also kept inclined at the angle β, and the distal end portion


4




e


of the grindstone


4


rises along the spline ball grooves b


1


, so that the grooves b


1


can be ground more securely. In these grinding processes, the spline ball grooves b


1


, each having a cross section in the shape of a Gothic arch or a circular arc with a single curvature radius, are formed on the inner surface of the workpiece W, as shown in FIG.


4


A. The grinding apparatus K, which grinds the workpiece W with its rod-shaped grindstone


4


inclined with respect to the inner surface of the workpiece W, has high stiffness to resist reaction force from the workpiece W. Therefore, the grinding apparatus K can efficiently grind grooves b


1


in a relatively short period of time.




When the grindstone


4


returns to the dress position P


1


, its distal end portion


4




e


comes into contact with the inner surface


15




a


of the dress groove


15


of the rotary dresser


7


, whereupon it is dressed. As this is done, the angle β of inclination of the grindstone


4


can be also maintained. In this manner, the grindstone


4


is shaped by means of the dresser


7


every time one groove b


1


is formed on the workpiece W. Thus, the distal end portion


4




e


of the grindstone


4


can always maintain very high shape accuracy and grinding efficiency, so that the surface accuracy of the groove bottom b


2


can be kept high.




In the case where chamfer portions b


3


must be formed individually on the opposite side edges of each spline ball groove b


1


, as shown in

FIG. 4B

, chamfering is carried out after a given number of grooves b


1


are ground on the workpiece W. For chamfering, a grinding machine S for chamfering shown in

FIG. 2

is used in place of the grinding apparatus K. Alternatively, chamfering may be carried out by means of a grinding machine for chamfering in a manner such that the workpiece W is fixed on another turntable for chamfering after it is removed from the turntable T.




The grinding machine S for chamfering shown in

FIG. 2

includes a disc-shaped grindstone


20


. An outer peripheral portion


20




a


of the grindstone


20


has a shape corresponding to the chamfer portions b


3


of each groove b


1


to be worked. The grindstone


20


is rotatably supported on the distal end portion of a holder


21


. A driven pulley


22


is mounted on the grindstone


20


. A drive motor


24


is provided on the other end of the holder


21


. A driving pulley


25


is mounted on a rotating shaft


24




a


of the motor


24


. An endless belt


23


is passed around and between the driven and driving pulleys


22


and


25


. A plurality of support pulleys


26


are arranged at given spaces in the intermediate portion of the holder


21


with respect to the longitudinal direction thereof. The intermediate portion of the belt


23


is supported by means of these support pulleys


26


.




An axis Lc of the grinding machine S for chamfering is in line with the axis Lb of the workpiece W. Thus, the grinding machine S is movable along the axis Lb of the workpiece W. The disc-shaped grindstone


20


in the workpiece W is movable along the axis Lb with its outer peripheral portion


20




a


in contact with opposite side edges of each spline ball groove b


1


. Thus, the chamfer portions b


3


are formed having the inclination shown in FIG.


4


B. In this chamfering operation, only a small force is needed to press the grindstone


20


against the workpiece W. Accordingly, there is no problem if the stiffness of the grinding machine S to resist reaction force from the workpiece W is low. According to this embodiment, moreover, the chamfering operation can be efficiently performed by means of the grinding machine S that includes the disc-shaped grindstone


20


after the main grinding processes for the grooves b


1


are carried out by means of the high-stiffness grinding apparatus K that has the rod-shaped grindstone


4


. Thus, the apparatus of this embodiment can finish the grooves b


1


in a shorter time than the conventional apparatuses.




The following is a description of a method for dressing the grindstone


4


. In the case of this embodiment, the so-called “through dressing” is executed in a manner such that the grindstone


4


is brought into contact with the formed rotary dresser


7


after the center of the dress groove


15


of the dresser


7


is aligned with the center of the grindstone


4


. The “through dressing” mentioned herein is a method in which the distal end portion


4




e


of the grindstone


4


, rotating around an axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the formed dresser


7


, is trued and dressed by being brought into contact with the inner surface


15




a


of the dress groove


15


as it is passed through the groove


15


.




The grindstone


4


is positioned with respect to the dress groove


15


in first to third positioning processes described below. The aforesaid angle β of inclination of the grindstone


4


is also maintained in these positioning processes. The cross section of the dress groove


15


is in the shape of a Gothic arch or a circular arc with a fixed curvature radius, depending on the cross section of each spline ball groove b


1


. The curvature radius of the distal end portion


4




e


of the grindstone


4


is smaller than that of the cross section of the dress groove


15


.




In the first positioning process, the distal end portion


4




e


of the grindstone


4


is first opposed to the inner surface


15




a


of the dress groove


15


at a short distance therefrom. Thereafter, the rotating grindstone


4


is moved relatively to the rotary dresser


7


in a first direction Y


1


along the axis of the dresser


7


, whereupon its distal end portion


4




e


is brought into contact with one side edge


15




b


of the dress groove


15


, as shown in FIG.


7


A. Vibration that is generated the moment this contact is made is transmitted to the plate spring


12


through the rotary dresser


7


, collar


8


, bolt


9


, and ball


10


. This vibration is amplified by means of the spring


12


and detected by means of the AE sensor


11


. As a signal detected by the sensor


11


is applied to the input of the controller


17


, the movement in the first direction Y


1


is stopped, and data on a first contact position is stored in the controller


17


.




In the second positioning process, thereafter, the grindstone


4


is moved in a second direction Y


2


, whereupon the distal end portion


4




e


of the grindstone


4


is brought into contact with the other side edge


15




c


of the dress groove


15


, as shown in FIG.


7


B. Vibration that is generated the moment this contact is made is transmitted to the plate spring


12


through the ball


10


. As the vibration amplified by means of the spring


12


is detected by means of the AE sensor


11


, the movement in the second direction Y


2


is stopped, and data on a second contact position is stored in the controller


17


.




Then, in the third positioning process, the grindstone


4


is moved again in the first direction Y


1


, whereupon it is delivered to an intermediate position between the first and second contact positions. In this third positioning process, the center of the grindstone


4


is aligned with that of the dress groove


15


. In a dressing process, the distal end portion


4




e


of the grindstone


4


, held in the intermediate position, is moved in a Z-axis direction toward the dress groove


15


, whereupon it abuts against the inner surface


15




a


of the groove


15


.




In the series of positioning processes described above, the respective centers of the grindstone


4


and the dress groove


15


are aligned accurately, so that the grindstone


4


can be kept from partial dressing and shaped highly accurately with a minimum necessary depth of dressing. In this embodiment, the grindstone


4


is dressed by the dresser


7


every time the groove b


1


is ground by apparatus K. In other words, grinding each spline ball groove b


1


by means of the grindstone


4


and dressing the grindstone


4


are repeated alternately, so that the shape of the grindstone


4


can be maintained with high accuracy. Thus, the grinding efficiency is improved, and the life of the grindstone


4


is lengthened.





FIGS. 8

to


9


C show a dressing apparatus DA according to a second embodiment of the invention. As shown in

FIG. 9A

, the cross section of a dress groove


15


A of a rotary dresser


7


A used in this dressing apparatus DA substantially has the shape of a quadrant. The groove


15


A is continuous in the circumferential direction of the dresser


7


A. As in the first embodiment shown in FIG.


1


and other drawings, the grindstone


4


is supported over the turntable T in a manner such that it is inclined at the given angle β to the axis Lb of the workpiece W. The dressing apparatus DA, like the dressing apparatus. D according to the first embodiment, is designed so that the grindstone


4


can be dressed by means of the dress groove


15


A as it is moved along the axis Lb of the workpiece W without changing the angle β of inclination of the grindstone


4


.




First, in a first positioning process for dressing, the rotating grindstone


4


moves in the first direction Y


1


, whereupon its distal end portion


4




e


comes into contact with one side edge


15




b


of the dress groove


15


A, as shown in FIG.


9


A. Vibration that is generated by this contact is detected by means of the AE sensor


11


. Thereupon, the movement in the first direction Y


1


is stopped, and data on the first contact position is stored in the controller


17


. In a second positioning process, thereafter, the grindstone


4


, kept inclined at the angle β, is moved in the second direction Y


2


toward a center point O of the dress groove


15


A. In a dressing process, thereafter, the grindstone


4


is moved in a Z-axis direction or the like that is perpendicular to the first and second directions Y


1


and Y


2


and moved around the center point O, whereupon its whole surface is dressed.




Since the grindstone


4


is accurately positioned with respect to the dress groove


15


A in this manner, partial dressing can be prevented to ensure an optimum depth of shaping, and the grindstone


4


can be dressed with high accuracy. Since the grindstone


4


is dressed every time one spline ball groove b


1


is ground, as in the first embodiment, the shape of the grindstone


4


can be maintained with high accuracy. Thus, the grinding efficiency is improved, and the life of the grindstone


4


is lengthened.





FIGS. 10

to


11


C show a dressing apparatus


30


according to a third embodiment of the invention. This dressing apparatus


30


is provided with a dresser unit


32


that is mounted on a main table


31


of a numerically-controlled (NC) machining apparatus. The dresser unit


32


comprises a movable table


34


, a rotating mechanism


35


having a motor therein, a tapered body


37


attached to an output shaft


36


of the mechanism


35


, a formed rotary dresser


40


fixed on the tapered body


37


. A dress groove


41


having a substantially semicircular cross section is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the dresser


40


. The groove


41


is continuous in the circumferential direction of the dresser


40


.




An AE sensor


11




a


is attached to an end portion of the rotary dresser


40


. A receiver


11




b


is mounted by means of a sensor bracket


45


on one end portion of the movable table


34


that carries the rotating mechanism


35


thereon. The receiver


11




b


and the AE sensor


11




a


are opposed to each other with a scanty air gap


46


(e.g., about 0.5 mm) between them. A sensor such as an AE sensor may be also used as the receiver


11




b


. The receiver


11




b


, which serves also as a transmitter, is connected electrically to the controller


17


through an amplifier (not shown).




The movable table


34


can be reciprocated in the direction of arrow Y in

FIG. 10

by means of a moving mechanism


50


, which comprises a servomotor


51


, lead screw


52


, braking mechanism


53


doubling as a coupling, nut member


54


, etc. The rotary dresser


40


serves to dress a grindstone


60


that is formed of CBN (cubic boron nitride material).





FIGS. 11A

to


11


C successively show processes for aligning the center of the rotary dresser


40


with that of the grindstone


60


. In a first positioning process, the grindstone


60


is first moved to a position such that its distal end portion


60




a


is opposed to an inner surface


41




a


of the dress groove


41


at a short distance therefrom. Thereafter, the dresser


40


is moved relatively to the grindstone


60


in the first direction Y


1


, as shown in FIG.


11


A. When the distal end portion


60




a


of the grindstone


60


comes into contact with one side edge


41




b


of the dress groove


41


, its vibration is detected by means of the AE sensor


11




a


. The sensor


11




a


delivers an output based on a signal detected thereby to the receiver


11




b


. The output of the AE sensor


11




a


is propagated through the air gap


46


to the receiver


11




b


and then applied to the input of the controller


17


. As this is done, the controller


17


generates a signal to stop the table


34


. According to the signal propagation system of this type, the noise level is low, and the gain can be set at a high level. It is possible, therefore, to detect even fine vibration that is generated when the grindstone


60


and the rotary dresser


40


are only in point contact with each other. A first contact position (Y


1


-direction coordinate position at which the table


34


is stopped) detected in this first positioning process is stored in the controller


17


.




Then, in a second positioning process, the rotary dresser


40


is moved relatively to the grindstone


60


in the second direction Y


2


. Vibration that is generated the moment the grindstone


60


touches the other side edge


41




c


of the dress groove


41


, as shown in

FIG. 11B

, is detected by means of the AE sensor


11




a


. As the output of the sensor


11




a


is propagated to the receiver


11




b


, moreover, data on a second contact position is applied to the input of the controller


17


. In this case also, the table


34


is stopped as the braking mechanism


53


is actuated.




In a third positioning process, thereafter, the dresser


40


moves again in the first direction Y


1


, whereupon a center C


2


of the dresser


40


is aligned with a center point between the first and second contact positions, that is, a center C


1


of the grindstone


60


, with respect to the Y coordinate axis. Then, in a dressing process, the grindstone


60


moves toward the dress groove


41


, as shown in

FIG. 11C

, and through dressing is carried out.




In the dressing apparatus


30


according to this embodiment, the AE sensor


11




a


and the receiver


11




b


of the noncontact type, which are opposed to each other with the air gap


46


between them, are used as means for detecting the contact between the rotary dresser


40


and the grindstone


60


. Since the sensor


11




a


and the receiver


11




b


propagate an AE signal without touching each other, the noise level is low, so that the gain level can be raised. Accordingly, slight contact between the small-diameter grindstone and the dresser can be detected. In the conventional apparatuses, a liquid is used to propagate signals from the rotary dresser to the sensor on the table. In the dressing apparatus D according to the first embodiment, the ball


10


and the plate spring


12


are brought into contact with each other. However, these requirements can be canceled by the use of the AE sensor


11




a


and the receiver


11




b


of the noncontact type.




In the first to third positioning processes described above, the moving mechanism


50


receives a stop signal and then stops the table


34


by means of a skip function with an adjustable-speed time constant of zero. Since this operation is subject to a time lag, the table


34


stops after it slightly moves for a distance corresponding to a table flow based on a position loop gain and a table feed rate as parameters. If this flow is excessive, the shape of the grindstone


60


is ruined, and the deformation of the grindstone


60


cannot be corrected in one cycle of the dressing process. The flow can be lessened by increasing the position loop gain or lowering the table feed rate. If the table feed rate is lowered too much, the necessary cycle time for dressing lengthens inevitably.




In the dressing apparatus


30


according to this embodiment, a target value of the flow rate is set at 1 to 2 μm. With use of the flow value, the grindstone


60


can be shaped in one cycle of the dressing process even if it is somewhat flawed. Since the uniaxial dresser unit


32


according to this embodiment can be made compact, high natural axial frequency can be obtained by rationalizing the stiffness of the lead screw


52


, a supporting portion for the screw


52


, and the coupling.




If the natural axial frequency of the table


34


is low, the table


34


is rendered uncontrollable by vibration when the speed loop gain is enhanced. In the case of the dresser unit


32


according to this embodiment, the target position loop gain is 70 sec


−1


, so that the cutoff frequency of the speed loop gain is at about 100 Hz. Accordingly, the natural axial frequency of the table is expected to be 100 Hz or more. If the target position loop gain is 70 sec


−1




1


, the cutoff frequency of the position loop gain is at 70/(2 π)=11.1 Hz. In this case, the cutoff frequency of the speed loop gain is at about 100 Hz. Since this region is not expected to involve a mechanical resonance region on the table side, the table requires a natural axial frequency of 100 Hz or more.





FIG. 12

shows differences in flow that are attributable to differences in the set value of the position loop gain. These differences are ones that are obtained when the grindstone


60


is brought into contact with the rotary dresser


40


at a feed rate of 3 mm/min. In other words, these are differences between total flows obtained when the grindstone is caused to touch the dresser several times after one cycle of dressing is finished. In

FIG. 12

, both of segments M


1


and M


2


are curves of secondary degree because the contact area of the grindstone


60


on the dresser


40


increases (or the contact mode changes from point contact into linear contact) as the frequency of contact increases. The flow for the case where the position loop gain is 70 sec


−1


ranges from 1 to 2 μm for first and second cycles of contact. If the position loop gain is 30 sec


−1


, on the other hand, the flow is as large as about 10 μm.




For the reason described above, the dressing apparatus


30


according to this embodiment is designed so that the natural axial frequency of the table is 100 Hz or more. Thus, the position loop gain can be increased to 70 sec


−1


, and the flow can be restricted to 2 μm to less. The dresser unit


32


according to this embodiment is mounted on the uniaxial movable table


34


that is separate from the main table


31


. Since the movable table


34


is compact, the natural. axial frequency of the table as a simple can be enhanced, so that the positioning accuracy for the table


34


is improved.




In the dressing apparatus


30


according to this embodiment, moreover, the position loop gain is set between 50 sec


−1


and 100 sec


−1


, so that the time lag with which the table


34


stops after the detected contact signal is applied to the input of the controller


17


is further lessened. In the case where the respective centers of the grindstone


60


and the formed dresser


40


are aligned as in the case of the dressing apparatus


30


, it is advisable to adjust the feed rate for the table


34


to 3 mm/min or more in consideration of the necessary cycle time for dressing. In consideration of modification for each cycle of the dressing process, moreover, the bite of the dresser


40


in the grindstone


60


based on the table flow should be adjusted to 5 μm or Less. To meet these requirements (table feed rate of 3 mm/min and flow of 5 μm or less), the position loop gain must set at about 50 sec


−1


or more, as seen from FIG.


12


. Practically, however, the position loop gain cannot be increased to 100 sec


−1


.




Although the grindstone


60


shown in

FIGS. 11A

to


11


C is intended for outer surface grinding, the dressing apparatus


30


according to this embodiment may be also applied to a pencil-type grindstone as well as to the grindstone


4


for inner surface grinding shown in FIG.


1


. According to each of the foregoing embodiments, the grindstone is moved with respect to the fixed workpiece in the grinding processes. However, the present invention may be arranged so that the workpiece is moved with respect to the grindstone.




Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.



Claims
  • 1. A method for dressing a grindstone used in a grinding apparatus by means of a rotary dresser having a dress groove, comprising:a first positioning process for relatively moving the grindstone in a first direction along the axis of the rotary dresser from a position in which the grindstone faces an inner surface of the dress groove, detecting a first contact position reached the moment the grindstone touches one side edge of the dress groove, and stopping the movement; a second positioning process for relatively moving the grindstone in a second direction along the axis, detecting a second contact position reached the moment the grindstone touches the other side edge of the dress groove, and stopping the movement, the second positioning process directly following the first positioning process; a third positioning process for moving the grindstone to an intermediate position between the first and second contact positions; and a dressing process for moving the grindstone toward the inner surface of the dress groove in a direction perpendicular to the axis, thereby bringing a distal end portion of the grindstone into contact with the inner surface of the dress groove, the dressing process directly following the third positioning process.
  • 2. A grinding method for forming a spline ball groove in a workpiece having an axis and a hole that extends along the axis, the spline ball groove being formed along the axis of the workpiece in an inner peripheral surface of the workpiece defining the hole, the grinding method comprising:a process for inclining a rod-shaped grindstone at a given angle to the axis of the workpiece and moving the grindstone parallel to the axis of the workpiece toward the workpiece, and inserting a distal end of the grindstone into the hole of the workpiece, thereby grinding the spline ball groove in the inner peripheral surface of the workpiece.
  • 3. A dressing method for dressing a grindstone for grinding a spline ball groove in a workpiece having a first axis and a hole that extends along the first axis, the spline ball groove being formed along the first axis in an inner peripheral surface of the workpiece defining the hole, and the grindstone being a rod-shaped grindstone adapted to be inclined at a given angle to the first axis of the workpiece and moved parallel to the first axis, the dressing method comprising:a process for rotating a rotary dresser having a dress groove about a second axis extending in a direction perpendicular to the first axis of the workpiece; a process for rotating the grindstone around a third axis extending along a longitudinal dimension of the grindstone; and a process for moving the grindstone parallel to the first axis in a manner such that the grindstone is inclined at the given angle, thereby effecting through dressing of the grindstone at a given point of the dress groove of the rotary dresser.
Priority Claims (3)
Number Date Country Kind
11-009400 Jan 1999 JP
11-322463 Nov 1999 JP
11-329920 Nov 1999 JP
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/047,190, filed on Oct. 25, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,572,442, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/483,495, filed on Jan. 14, 2000 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,361,410, issued on Mar. 26, 2002), the benefit of the filing dates of which is hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C. § 120, which in turn claim the benefit of the following Japanese applications, the benefit of the filing dates of which is hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C. § 119: Application No. 11-009400, filed in Japan on Jan. 18, 1999 Application No. 11-322463, filed in Japan on Nov. 12, 1999 Application No. 11-329920, filed in Japan on Nov. 19, 1999

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Number Name Date Kind
4219972 Ota et al. Sep 1980 A
4456303 Due Jun 1984 A
4658800 Larsson Apr 1987 A
4953522 Vetter Sep 1990 A
5127391 O'Keefe Jul 1992 A
5183026 Ohta et al. Feb 1993 A
5272843 Maruyama et al. Dec 1993 A
5582536 Kagamida Dec 1996 A
5681209 Naumann et al. Oct 1997 A