Rationalisation with Flexible Cylindrical Grinding Machines.

Significant rationalisation has been achieved as a result of intensive development of the universal external cylindrical grinding machine. Therefore, CNC cylindrical grinding machines are now used predominantly in the manufacture of both single workpieces and medium batch quantities of general engineering products. The article reports on the step-by-step development of the conventional cylindrical grinding machine through to the CNC controlled design. Consideration is given to the various applications of longitudinal grinding and plunge-cut grinding respectively grinding several seats on a shaft, grinding of plane shoulders, numerically controlled wheel dressing as well as taper grinding. A subsequent article will explain the machine attachments that have been designed to reduce resetting times.