Centerless Grinding Machine Bed Segmentation for Accessibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current centerless cylindrical grinding machines have complex and expensive designs with multiple positioning axes, making it difficult to access and maintain the grinding wheel and regulating wheel, as well as limiting accessibility to the machining area.

Innovation Solution

A centerless cylindrical grinding machine design with only three positioning axes, where the grinding headstock and control headstock are arranged in a first area of the machine bed, and the carriage track extends partially into a second area with a smaller extension, creating open spaces for better accessibility, and includes movable covers and a detection unit for enhanced safety and ergonomics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If multiple positioning axes (up to six) are used for grinding headstock and regulating wheel adjustment, then manufacturing precision and productivity are improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveworkpiece machining accuracyVSAvoidnumber of positioning axes
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The machine bed is segmented into two distinct areas: a first area for arranging the grinding headstock and control headstock, and a second area with smaller extension for the carriage track. This spatial segmentation allows the carriage to access the machining area from the side without requiring multiple complex positioning axes for the headstocks themselves.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the slideway protrudes into the machining area, then workpiece support positioning is improved, but accessibility to the machining area and component maintenance becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveworkpiece support positioningVSAvoidaccessibility to grinding wheel and regulating wheel
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The carriage track is positioned in the second area of the machine bed, allowing the workpiece support to be accessed and positioned from a lateral dimension rather than requiring frontal access through the protruding slideway. This dimensional approach enables side access to the machining area for maintenance while preserving positioning capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the machine bed area for machining is at a distance from the slideway area, then structural stability is improved, but accessibility and ease of maintenance are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemachine bed structural stabilityVSAvoidaccessibility to machining area
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The machine bed is divided into two functional areas with different purposes: the first area provides a stable base for the headstocks, while the second area with smaller extension accommodates the carriage track and enables lateral access. This segmentation maintains structural stability while improving accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3741508B1Centreless cylindrical grinding machine
Publication Date: 2022.04.06 TSCHUDIN URS
  • EP3741508B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3741508B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3741508B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to a centerless cylindrical grinding machine (100) for through-feed and plunge grinding of any workpieces, comprising a first driveable positioning axis XS for a grinding spindle stock (10) with a rotating grinding wheel (11) and a second driveable positioning axis XR for a regulating spindle stock (20) with a rotatable regulating wheel (21), and a workpiece support (32) that can be arranged substantially between the grinding spindle stock (10) and the regulating spindle stock (20), wherein a further driveable positioning axis YW for a slide (31) extending perpendicular to at least one of the positioning axes XS and XR is mounted on a slide track (30) over which the workpiece support (32) can be moved.The grinding spindle stock (10) and the control spindle stock (20) are arranged in a first area (41) of a machine bed (40) and the slide track (30) is arranged at least partially in a second area (42) of the machine bed (40), wherein the second area (42) of the machine bed (40) has a smaller extent in a direction parallel to the positioning axis YW than the first area (41) of the machine bed (40).