Method of automated grinding
US4864777A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 1, 1988 |
| Grant date | Sep 12, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 1, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB24B49/12
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Automated grinding is performed using a tracking means having a sufficient field of view to locate edges to be processed and using a high resolution profiler in order to provide grinding information for calculation of the amount of material which should be removed from the workpiece. Those sections of the workpiece not requiring additional grinding may be traversed at a high speed in order to improve productivity. A process control computer receives grinding information from the tracking means and high resolution profiler and uses it to control a manipulator to adjust the travel speed of the grinder, force with which a grinder is applied, position of the grinder, and/or speed of rotation of the grinder in order to remove the correct amount of material from a workpiece. The technique is especially advantageous in removing excess material, burrs, nicks, chips and other minor irregularities in workpieces. A second profiler may be used to check that the grinder has properly ground portions of the workpiece. The tracking means and the profilers are flying spot laser profilers. The technique can accommodate either force-control or position-control grinding.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.