On-line laser gaging for centerless grinding

Auburn Hills, Michigan – At EASTEC in booth #1644, Marposs will demonstrate its Grindline laser measuring system for on-line gaging of parts produced by centerless grinding machines such as pins, shock rods, steering racks, or other parts needing a single or multi-diameter check. These systems prevent machining of out-of-tolerance pieces to reduce scrap, save time, and help companies achieve zero-defect production.

Grindline systems are installed at the output of the grinders. After the machining process, parts are blown clean of water and oil and then passed through a laser beam that registers hundreds of measurements along the axis of the component. Signals from the gage are processed by the software, which is able to extract data that pertains only to ground features, ignoring grooves, threads, or other shape irregularities. This information is then compared to the pre-set nominal value, and if the process drifts out of the pre-set limits, the Grindline software automatically adjusts the grinder to compensate for wheel wear and keep the product within the desired tolerance limits.

Measurements are stored and processed in real-time. By connecting a standard printer to an Aeroel CE-200 panel, statistical reports can be generated for each operator-selected batch. Additionally, by using an Ethernet or RS-232 serial line, a remote computer can be used to download the measured data or to program the system.

Key features of the Grindline system include through-feed measurement and display of the ground diameter; tolerance checking and alarms for part sorting; real-time grinder regulation; statistical reports; and NO-VAR technology ensuring there is no measuring drift due to changing room temperatures.