Influence of contact loss between workpiece and grinding wheel on the roundness errors in centreless grinding

The objective of this paper is the study of certain non-linear phenomena in the centreless grinding process and their effect on roundness quality. These phenomena arise as a consequence of contact loss between workpiece and grinding wheel. A simplified analysis of the problem is carried out to determine the main parameters involved. A qualitative assessment of the effect of these parameters is undertaken by means of a time simulation based on a non-linear bi-dimensional model of the centreless grinding process. Two situations are analysed: the steady process, and the transient spark-out process. The results, which are generalised in graphics form provide an estimation of roundness errors resulting from working under linearly unstable conditions. Finally, a correlation between theoretical and experimental results is presented. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.