Today’s topic:

Grinding Machines
- Centre-less grinding
machine

SREERAJ A S, ST.MARY'S POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE

 Centre-less Grinding Machines
• In centreless grinding, the work piece is supported by a combination of a work rest blade,
a regulating wheel and a grinding wheel.
• It is performed on work which does not have centres. This can reduce the total operation
time by eliminating the need for centre holes in the work piece and time taken to mount
the work piece.
• The grinding wheel rotates at higher speed than the regulating wheel and does the actual
grinding operation. Regulating wheel controls the rotation of the work piece. Work rest is
used to keep the work piece pressing against the face of the control wheel.

SREERAJ A S, ST.MARY'S POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE

 Centre-less Grinding Machines
• Centreless grinding machine consists of three basic elements :
1. Grinding wheel – It is a conventional type straight grinding wheel. It is rotated in a
clockwise direction at a speed of 25-30 m/ s, and its diameter varies from 300 to 500 mm.
The wheel is chosen to suit the type of work and operation.
2. Control wheel - It is a rubber bonded abrasive wheel and rotates in the same direction,
but at slower speed, of grinding wheel. It drives the work as if they were two friction
wheels; hence the work rotates in an anti-clockwise direction. The diameter of control
wheels vary from 200 to 300 mm with speed range 12 to 200 rev/min. It is tilted through a
small angle (max. 7°) to provide axial feed to work piece.
3. Work-rest blade - The work-rest blade is positioned such that work axis is kept at a
suitable height above the wheel centres. Its top face is bevelled so that the work is always
pressed against regulating wheel.

SREERAJ A S, ST.MARY'S POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE

Centre-less Grinding Machines

SREERAJ A S, ST.MARY'S POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE

 Centre-less Grinding Machines
Types of centreless grinding:
1. Through-feed grinding
2. Infeed grinding
3. End feed grinding
In through-fed grinding the work piece has a uniform diameter and is fed through the
wheels which have been set at a fixed distance apart to give the correct work diameter. In
order to impart an axial feed to the work piece the control wheel is tilted slightly,
generally less than 7°. It is used for parallel work of any length which has no surface
obstructions.

SREERAJ A S, ST.MARY'S POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE

 Centre-less Grinding Machines
Infeed grinding is a plunge grinding and is used for multi diameter work or any form of
work that cannot be passed completely through the wheels. The work is placed in
position against a pre-set end stop. Control wheel slide advances the rotating work up to
the grinding wheel. The control wheel is usually tilted slightly to hold the work piece.
End feed grinding is used with the multi diameter work but the length to be ground is too
long for the infeed grinding operation. Feed motion is imparted to work piece until it
meets the end stop. Thus it is combination of infeed and through-feed grinding. This
method is mostly used for taper grinding.

SREERAJ A S, ST.MARY'S POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE

Centre-less Grinding Machines

SREERAJ A S, ST.MARY'S POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE

 Centre-less Grinding Machines
Advantages of Centre less grinding:
♦ No axial thrust on work, long parts are easily ground.
♦ Work centre holes are not necessary.
♦ The process is relatively fast, and ideal for production purposes.
♦ Plain, short pieces can be continuously ground using through-feed grinding.
♦ Size of the work is easily controlled.
♦ The process is relatively simple, and low order of skill is needed to operate the
machine.

SREERAJ A S, ST.MARY'S POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE

 Centre-less Grinding Machines
Disadvantages of centreless grinding :
♦ Work having obstructions is not easily handled.
♦ Work with flats and key ways cannot be ground.

SREERAJ A S, ST.MARY'S POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE

Internal Centre-less Grinding Machines

SREERAJ A S, ST.MARY'S POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE

 Internal Centre-less Grinding Machines
In internal centre less grinding, three rolls are used to support the work piece and
impart rotation to it. The grinding wheel is in contact with the work and revolves as well
as traverse inside the hole to ground the required length. The process is used for
grinding cylinders, sleeves etc.

SREERAJ A S, ST.MARY'S POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE

 Internal Centre-less Grinding Machines
Advantages of internal centre less grinding:
• High degree of concentricity between bore and outside diameter.
• No work holding devices are required.
• High production rates.
• Little deflection and high degree of accuracy is possible.
• Setting comparatively simple.
Disadvantages of internal centre-less grinding
• Initial costs of centreless grinders are high
• Only economical for mass production.

SREERAJ A S, ST.MARY'S POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE